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Liga MX Roundup: Atlas impress, Furch rescues draw for Veracruz vs. Chivas

By Rafael Diaz

The Liga MX returned this weekend. Here is a roundup of all the games from Week 1 in the league.

Atlas closed week 1 at the top of the Liga MX table as they clinched a 3-1 win over Queretaro at the Estadio Corregidora on Friday night.

Emanuel Villa found a breakthrough for Queretaro on 21 minutes, but Atlas hit back in the first half when Gonzalo Bergessio found Arturo "Poncho" Gonzalez, who shot beyond goalkeeper Tiago Volpi.

The Rojinegros completed the comeback on 40 minutes through Bergessio, and the Argentine scored again in the second half to seal Atlas' first win under new coach Gustavo Costas.

Miguel "Piojo" Herrera made his return to Liga MX in Xolos de Tijuana's 1-1 draw with Pachuca.

Xolos took the lead  in the 20th minute when Carlos Guzman gathered a ball inside the edge of the box and sent a curling effort into the top corner of the net.

Pachuca remained dangerous, however, and found the equalizer at the stroke of halftime. Omar Gonzalez was able to meet a corner and flick the ball through to Franco Jara, who volleyed home from point-blank range to score the 1-1.

Club America's search for their first home win of the season ended with a draw as Las Aguilas had to settle for goalless stalemate with Puebla. La Franja looked like the better team throughout the match, but both teams were guilty of wasting chances.

Monterrey clinched their first win in the Liga MX season, as they triumphed 1-0 over Pumas UNAM at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer.

The only goal of the match was scored by Rogelio Funes Mori in the second half after the former Benfica striker connected with Edwin Cardona's cross inside the box.

Luis Zubeldia suffered his first defeat as Santos Laguna manager as Leon earned a 2-0 win on Saturday night. The Argentine manager arrived from Ecuador over the winter and was sent off an hour into his Liga MX debut.

Elias Hernandez missed a penalty in the second half, but German Cano quickly put Leon in front.

Cano then scored a second with phenomenal bicycle kick to effectively put the points in the bank for Juan Antonio Pizzi's side.

Luis Gabriel Rey's 76th minute goal helped Monarcas Morelia rescue a point following a 2-2 draw with Cruz Azul at the Estadio Morelos.

Rodrigo Millar scored the first for Morelia in the 24th minute but Enrique Meza's side had little chance to enjoy the lead when Jorge Benitez netted only two minutes later.

Christian "Chaco" Gimenez did well from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, but Luis Gabriel Rey smashed home a volley 14 minutes from time to earn Morelia a point.

Chiapas picked up their first home win of the season and increased the pressure on relegation favorites Dorados with a 1-0 win.

Dorados looked comfortable and came close to grabbing the breakthrough in the first half through new signing Wilson Morelo, but it was cruel luck for the Sinaloa outfit, as Silvio Romero scored a superb chip with three minutes to go to give Chiapas the win.

Fernando Uribe fired Toluca to a 1-0 win over Tigres and inflicted the Liga MX champions their first defeat of the season on Sunday.

The match was a scrappy one, and the only real moment of the game came in added time when Carlos Esquivel found Fernando Uribe inside the box, where the Colombian fired from point-blank range to gift Toluca ll three points.

Finally, Chivas failed to hold on to the lead twice as ten-man Veracruz earned a 2-2 draw at the Estadio Omnilife.

New signing Carlos Alberto "Gullit" Peña gave Chivas fans something to smile about when he scored in the 15th minute, but Leobardo Lopez brought Veracruz leveled.

With a man advantage following a red card to Gabriel Peñalba, Chivas crafted a second when substitute Javier Eduardo "Chofis" Lopez dribbled his way past several defenders before having his cross met by Alan Zamora, who deflected the ball into his own net.

Chivas looked set for a winning start, but seven minutes from time, Julio Furch picked out Antonio Rodriguez's bottom corner from distance to stun the Omnilife and earn Veracruz an unlikely point.

Goal of the week: German Cano

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