PUEBLA (Interstat) — Monterrey scored four unanswered goals before Puebla found the net and pulled away for a 4-1 victory Wednesday in Liga MX play. The visiting side controlled the decisive stretch from the 17th minute through the 61st, turning a tight opening into a commanding lead and handing Puebla a home defeat. Monterrey improved to five wins, four losses and two draws in this competition and to six wins, four losses and two draws across all competitions. Puebla fell to three wins, four losses and four draws in this competition and across all competitions.

Diego Rossi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, finishing a move that set Monterrey on its way. Hugo Cuypers doubled the lead in the 31st minute, and Lucas Ocampos made it 3-0 in the 34th minute with a goal that underlined Monterrey’s edge during the first half. Ocampos also provided an assist during a 76-minute performance, and Oliver Torres supplied two assists. The first-half burst put Puebla on the back foot and forced the home side to chase the game after the break. Monterrey’s attacking play stretched Puebla repeatedly, and the visitors carried a three-goal lead into halftime.

Monterrey kept pressing early in the second half. Roberto De La Rosa, who entered the match and played 33 minutes, scored in the 61st minute to extend the advantage to 4-0. The goal capped a fluent attacking display and settled the result. Ocampos had already departed by the 76th minute, while Cuypers and Rossi were substituted in the 57th and 58th minutes, respectively, after helping build the lead. Monterrey’s substitutions did not disrupt its control as the visitors managed the closing stages. Salcedo and Pineda also came on for Monterrey as the visitors rotated while protecting the lead.

Facundo Almada scored Puebla’s only goal in the 66th minute, converting with Juan Pablo Vargas providing the assist. Almada’s finish gave the home side a late response, but Puebla could not build on the goal. Vargas helped create the consolation, and Puebla pushed more players forward after the goal. Monterrey’s defensive shape limited clear chances and kept the home side from cutting further into the deficit. Puebla made changes of its own, with Jurado and Tomas entering at halftime, Mustre coming on in the 56th minute, Ramirez in the 65th and Moreno in the 79th.

Late discipline added some tension to the finish. Monterrey’s Orellano received a yellow card in the 90th minute, and Chavez was booked in the first minute of stoppage time. The cards came after the match had been decided, with Monterrey protecting a three-goal cushion and Puebla unable to mount a sustained comeback. Monterrey’s season record in this competition now stands at five wins, four losses and two draws, while Puebla’s competition mark is three wins, four losses and four draws. Across all competitions, Monterrey is six wins, four losses and two draws, and Puebla is three wins, four losses and four draws.

Monterrey’s win followed a 2-1 home result against Pachuca and a 1-1 draw at Club America in its previous two league matches, extending a solid run in league play. Puebla, which had drawn with Club Tijuana and Club Leon in its previous two matches, remained without a victory in its latest outings and will look to regroup in its next match. Monterrey’s next scheduled league match is against Guadalajara Chivas, while Puebla is set to visit Atlas.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Puebla 1, Monterrey 1, and its ELO system had projected Monterrey with a 64.7 percent probability to win. The projections were made before kickoff.