Match recap: Atlas 1, Santos Laguna 0

Jesús Isijara came back to haunt his old team, as his goal in the 84th minute would see Atlas through to the three points against Santos Laguna at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.

Santos started out on the front foot, taking the game to the home side with quick passing and a commitment to winning the second ball. To their credit, Atlas was able to remain compact on defense and do their best to hit Santos on a counterattack. Atlas also resorted to fouling early and often, picking up three yellow cards in the span of six minutes at one point.

Atlas got the first good chance of the evening in the 26th minute when former Santos winger Jesús Isijara got a shot from close range, but Isijara’s shot wasn’t hit cleanly and goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco was able to easily stop the shot.

In the 37th, Santos looked to have a certain goal when a defensive breakdown allowed Javier Correa in on goal on the left side. He passed centrally, but Julio Furch wasn’t able to get a good touch on it and Brayan Garnica‘s shot was blocked off of the line by Jesús Gómez.

In the 40th, José Juan “Gallito” Vázquez would break in one-on-one with goalkeeper José Hernández, but Gallito’s shot went right into the prone goalkeeper.

After the half, Santos’ Furch got tangled up in the box with an Atlas defender but the referee declined to call a penalty or go to VAR. A minute later, Juan Pablo Vigón would have a good look at goal but his shot went well high of the target. In the 51st minute, José Abella would clear an errant ball off of the line for Santos to preserve the score. Osvaldo Martínez would have a great chance in the 55th minute when he took a pass from the end line but his shot went wide of the net.

In the 65th, Brian Lozano would have a shot from the left wing deflect off of a defender and into the waiting arms of Hernández. Isijara would hit a shot from distance but it too missed the mark and didn’t trouble Jona Orozco. In the 71st, Orozco would make a fine save on a header from Facundo Barceló.

Atlas would break the deadlock in the 84th minute when former Guerrero Jesús Isijara would hit a shot that hit off of the post, ricochet off of defender Hugo Nervo, and in.

In the 87th, Doría would place a header on goal but Hernández would make a solid stop on the shot. Santos would be ultimately be unable to break through and Atlas would get all three points on the night.

Atlas heads to Veracruz to face Tiburones Rojos on Friday evening. Santos heads to Nuevo León to face Tigres on Wednesday in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinal round before heading home to host Pachuca on Sunday in Liga MX play.

Atlas: José Hernández; Ismael Govea, Anderson Santamaría, Jorge Segura, Jesús Gómez; Edgar Zaldívar; Osvaldo Martínez (Jairo Torres, 67’), Juan Pablo Vigón; Jesús Isijara, Jefferson Duque (Facundo Barceló, 60’), Alejandro Díaz (Andrés Andrade, 46’)

Santos Laguna: Jonathan Orozco; José Abella, Matheus Doría, Hugo Nervo, Gerardo Arteaga; Brayan Garnica (Brian Lozano, 58’), José Juan Vázquez, Diego Valdés, Ulíses Rivas; Julio Furch, Javier Correa (Carlos Orrantía, 76’)

Scoring: Atlas - Jesús Isijara (84’); Santos Laguna - None

Disciplinary: Atlas - Ismael Govea (Yellow - 17’), Jorge Segura (Yellow - 22’), Alejandro Díaz (Yellow - 23’), Anderson Santamaría (Yellow - 59’), Jesús Isijara (Yellow - 64’); Santos Laguna - Diego Valdés (Yellow - 33’), José Abella (Yellow - 75’)