Pachuca and Necaxa played out a breathless 3-3 draw in Liga MX action on October 12, 2026, an Estadio Hidalgo thriller that swung one way, then the other, before settling into a share of the points. Six goals, two comebacks, and a finish that left both benches exhausted — this was Liga MX at its most chaotic and entertaining.

Match Overview

Pachuca, the Tuzos, entered the match as favorites on home soil, but Necaxa arrived with a clear plan: sit compact, absorb pressure, and strike through quick transitions. For 45 minutes, that plan worked almost perfectly. Necaxa raced into a two-goal lead, silencing the Estadio Hidalgo crowd and forcing Pachuca into an uphill climb.

What followed was a classic Liga MX script: a Pachuca surge either side of halftime, a Necaxa counter punch, and a late equalizer that sent the home supporters home frustrated but entertained. The 3-3 result preserves Necaxa's reputation as one of the league's most stubborn away sides and leaves Pachuca ruing two dropped points at home.

Key Moments

• 14' — Necaxa 1-0: Diber Cambindo opened the scoring with a composed finish after a quick break down the right.
• 29' — Necaxa 2-0: José Paradela doubled the lead from a set piece, pouncing on a loose ball inside the area.
• 41' — Pachuca 2-1: Salomón Rondón pulled one back with a powerful header, giving the Tuzos a lifeline before the break.
• 48' — Pachuca 2-2: Oussama Idrissi leveled early in the second half, cutting inside and curling a shot into the far corner.
• 67' — Necaxa 3-2: Cambindo struck again on the counter, finishing calmly after Pachuca committed numbers forward.
• 84' — Pachuca 3-3: Rondón grabbed his second of the night, converting from close range to rescue a point for the hosts.

Tactical Story

Pachuca's build-up play was patient and possession-heavy, with Idrissi and the wide players stretching Necaxa's back line. But the Tuzos' commitment to pushing full-backs high left them exposed to exactly the kind of vertical counterattacks Necaxa thrive on. Both of Cambindo's goals came from transitions in which Pachuca had too many players ahead of the ball.

Necaxa's discipline in their 5-3-2 block was impressive for long stretches, though the constant pressure eventually told. Their inability to hold possession in the final 20 minutes allowed Pachuca to camp in their half, and Rondón's late equalizer felt almost inevitable by the time it arrived.

Standout Players

• Salomón Rondón: Two goals, relentless movement, and the focal point of every Pachuca attack.
• Oussama Idrissi: Creative and dangerous, his equalizer swung the momentum firmly toward the hosts.
• Diber Cambindo: A brace on the road, both goals taken with real quality on the break.
• José Paradela: Sharp in the pockets of space between Pachuca's midfield and defense.

Liga MX Table Impact

The draw is a mixed result for both clubs. Pachuca will feel they dropped two points at home, particularly after clawing back from 2-0 down, and the failure to hold a 3-2 deficit-turned-equalizer late on will sting. Necaxa, meanwhile, will take encouragement from a road point against one of Mexico's most consistent sides, even if they will also wonder how they let the lead slip twice.

In the broader Liga MX playoff race, every point matters, and both teams remain firmly in the conversation for a postseason place. Goal difference and head-to-head records often decide seeding, so a six-goal night like this one carries relevance well beyond the single point each side collected.

What's Next

Pachuca must tighten up in transition if they are to convert possession into three-point performances, while Necaxa will look to replicate the counterattacking efficiency that earned them a draw at the Estadio Hidalgo. On this evidence, both sides have the attacking quality to trouble anyone in Liga MX — the question is whether either can find the defensive consistency required to climb the table.