Atlas take the W in the first leg against Chivas
In another edition of El Clasico Tapatio, Atlas hosted archrival Chivas in the first leg of the Apertura 2023 quarter finals. Despite the good football displayed by both sides, the teams were overshadowed by the referee’s decisions as he did not call two penalties for Atlas while calling one for chivas.
The plays in question came in early in the game at the 9’ and 15’. First, Julio Furch got fouled by Gilberto Sepulveda when the defender tried to clear the ball and a few minutes later, Jonathan Herrera was running all by himself towards the goal when Jesus Orozco tackled him inside the box, without really touching the ball. In both instances, the referee let the plays continue despite the impetuous protests from the Atlas players.
Just ten minutes later and with the mood still heated from the two previous uncalled penalties, Carlos Cisneros came sprinting from the right and tried to cross the ball, but it got blocked by Luis Reyes’ hand. This time around, the referee Marco Ortiz correctly called the handball and the penalty for Guadalajara.
It was time for “Pocho” Guzman to shine, with a big performance, during a big game against a big rival, nevertheless–and despite putting the goal right on the bottom corner–he hit the ball too softly and Camilo Vargas was able to make the save.
At the 42’, Camilo took a goal kick far from his goal and all the way into the rival box, the ball was correctly headed by Julio Furch and after a quick bounce, Julian Quinones pounced on the ball and with a strong right-foot shot pierced the net. A beautiful goal for the Colombian, who became the active player with the most goals in the Guadalajara derby, with six goals, one ahead of Alexis Vega.
The last good play came at the 69’, when Atlas counter attacked with Brian “Huevo” Lozano sprinting through the left flank and crossing a beautiful ball that Ozziel Herrera sent too far on the right.
With this result, Veljko Paunovic’s eleven will have to win by at least one goal, irrespective of visitor goals, as they advance in case of overall draw due to being seeded higher in the table.
