Match recap: Atlas 1, Club Tijuana 0

Soccer is a funny game. Atlas dominated the match against Tijuana this evening, but won 1-0 despite failing to convert a penalty. Atlas took the game to Tijuana, which seemed to catch Xolos off guard, preventing them from ever truly finding their footing.

In the early minutes of the match, Atlas did well to hold possession and look for opportunities. Xolos looked a bit on the back foot, and committed foul after foul. In the eighth minute Atlas had their first chance of the match when Milton Caraglio hit a diving header on a cross that was saved rather easily. Caraglio had another chance a minute later that was also saved, but the third time was the charm for Atlas. Pressing hard, Atlas forced Jonathan Orozco to hold on to the ball too long and his pass went straight to Renato Ibarra, who scored easily.

Atlas kept threatening and pressing, and in the 20th Atlas had shouts for a penalty when Jeremy Márquez was tripped in the box. Referee Jorge Pérez took a minute, went to the VAR booth, and awarded the penalty. Ignacio Malcorra took the penalty, but his stutter-steps didn’t fool the goalkeeper and the shot was saved.

Atlas still was still pressing for a second goal. Caraglio had a crack from the left side in the 32nd minute that was saved. In the 41st Caraglio hit a chileno from inside of the box that was also saved. Caraglio then had a header go just wide in stoppage time, and then just before the whistle Ibarra almost got a second when he was able to break past the Xolos defense. Xolos hung on, and were very fortunate to go to the locker room down only one goal.

After the break it was more of the same. Atlas came out shooting, and Tijuana looked back on their heels. Jeremy Márquez had a hit from the top of the box that was saved in the 47th. Márquez also got another shot on a breakaway in the 50th, but he rushed it and sent it into the stands.

Orozco was subbed out in the 59th minute after injuring his left leg while kicking a ball on a goal kick, giving Benny Díaz his Liga MX debut for Xolos. Díaz was tested in the 77th on a close range shot from Javier Correa and did well to parry it aside.

At the other end, Xolos had their best chance of the match when David Barbona hit a shot from distance that Camilo Vargas made a fantastic save on. It wouldn’t be enough however, as Atlas welcomed the fans back to Estadio Jalisco with a solid win.

Atlas remains at home to host León next Saturday, April 10. Tijuana will head back home to host Mazatlán FC on Sunday, April 11.

Atlas: Camilo Vargas; Jesús Angulo, Hugo Nervo, Anderson Santamaría, Diego Barbosa; Jairo Torres (Pablo González, 90+1’) Aldo Rocha, Jeremy Márquez; Ignacio Malcorra, Milton Caraglio (Javier Correa, 73’), Renato Ibarra (José Abella, 86’)

Club Tijuana: Jonathan Orozco (Benny Díaz, 59’); Brayan Angulo, Gonzalo Jara, Eduardo Tercero, Jaime Gómez (Vladimir Loroña, 59’); Junior Sornoza, Esteban Pavez (Edgar López, 64’), Christian Rivera, David Barbona; Mauro Manotas (Fabián Castillo, 64’), Miguel Sansores (Fidel Martínez, 45’)

Scoring: Atlas - Renato Ibarra (10’); Club Tijuana - None

Disciplinary: Atlas - Anderson Santamaría (Yellow - 36’), Ignacio Malcorra (Yellow - 60’); Club Tijuana - Esteban Pavez (Yellow - 9’), Gonzalo Jara (Yellow - 76’), Junior Sornoza (Yellow - 90+4’)