Aguilas falls apart in the last 20 minutes, draws with Atlas

Fans at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson witnessed a fantastic 2-2 draw between America and Atlas Saturday evening.

In an exhibition match that was meant to keep both teams in game shape during FIFA’s March International Match Week, America played the first of their Tour Aguila 2019 matches against Club Atlas. Fans from both sides flooded the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA but it was apparent that the fans that dominated the stands in Dignity Sports Park were all dressed in yellow and blue.

The last exhibition match in the U.S. between these two teams took place last July 11th at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, CA which ended in a scoreless draw.

Dignity Sports Park was full of fans traveling from as far as New York who electrified the stadium even before the teams took the field for warm-ups.An exciting first half began in Carson saw both teams with various opportunities to score.

The first opportunity came right after the whistle in the second minute as Andres Ibarguen sent a through ball to Jeremy Menez and he was challenged hard by two Rojinegro defenders inside the penalty box, ultimately loses control of the ball and commits a foul in frustration.At the fifth minute, the first judgment call for the referee comes as Menez finds the ball inside the penalty box after a scuffle and is brought down by defenders.

The referee signals a play on gesture and is immediately sent jeers from all Las Aguilas fans at Dignity Health Sports Park that could be heard down in San Diego. During the 10th minute, Atlas came knocking on America’s goal as an old foe Osvaldito Martinez sends a rifling shot from outside the box that misses far right of Jimenez’s goal.

At the 24th minute, a penalty kick is awarded to America after a cross by Henry Martin bounces off a Rojinegro defender’s arm. Then like a fantastic maestro Menez lines up to shoot the penalty kick and chips the ball over the goalie giving Las Aguilas a 1-0 lead.Andres “El Rifle” Andrade, another familiar face in America, tries to answer back for Los Rojinegros during the 29th min and dribbles the ball past three defenders just outside the box and sends a rifling shot that goes just over the crossbar.

In the final minute of the first half, Menez sends a dangerous cross past the Atlas goalkeeper Edgar Hernandez and just inches away from the sliding leg of Martin.

Just like the first half Las Aguilas began the second with a shot attempt within the first two minutes. This time they did not come empty-handed. Benedetti dribbled past a Rojinegro defender on the right side of the box and sent a soaring cross that finds Paul Aguilar alone between a group of defenders, and he kicked a shot that is slightly deflected and ends up in the back of the net giving America a comfortable 2-0 lead to at the beginning of the second half.

Up to this point, Las Aguilas were outplaying Los Rojinegros, who only had a couple of shots on goal and Jefferson Duque tried to change their luck sending a canon outside the box in the 57th min that was deflected back by Oscar Jimenez.

In the 68th min America had the opportunity to further their lead as youngster Ivan Romero receives a beautiful cross that leaves him ahead of defenders and in front of the goalkeeper but he seems to have doubted his shot and decides to cross a ball that finds no one. A missed opportunity that would end up costing Las Aguilas.It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that Los Rojinegros finally found some life in this game that would give them hope as a lazy cross by Gomez ends up finding Diaz just outside the box, and he shoots a one timer beating the outstretched hands of Jimenez and cutting America’s lead down to one.

After a few subs from both teams and a goal that gave all Rojinegro fans hope, Atlas managed to change their luck final 20 min of the game and began to put pressure on their attacking third sending warning shots on Jimenez.

Then in the 81st min after a scrimmage inside the box, the ball finds Alejandro Gomez on the left side, and he blasts it past Jimenez to his far post of giving the Rojinegros the 2-2 draw.

Las Aguilas had a final opportunity after the referee awarded them a free kick just outside the penalty box in 90+1’ min of play. Aguilera took the kick and blasted it over the defending wall, but Hernandez was able to dive comfortably to his side and cradled the ball with his hand and securing the 2-2 draw to end the game.

Postgame America head coach El Piojo was hesitant to talk to reporters at first but later expressed his discontent with the officiating as he pointed out that the referee seemed like he was unconcerned that players were getting battered and bruised in an exhibition game. El Piojo was detailing this as one of his young players left the stadium on crutches.

America now heads back home to play Tigres on Saturday, and Atlas plays Santos on Friday in the Liga MX.