Liga MX: Copa MX Recap – July 25, 2018

The Copa MX continued on Wednesday and didn’t disappoint for those that cheer for the underdog.

Puebla 1 – Venados 0:
Cuauhtémoc Stadium witnessed a largely uneventful match. Fans went home happy with the result, though, after Puebla took a 1-0 victory. Puebla’s goal came from a Francisco Acuña header just before halftime, after he made a nice run to get on the end of a cross from the left side.

Then, the intensity fell off. Puebla switched to a much more defensive mindset, content to just hold for the three points. La Franja and los Astados face off against Monterrey in their next Copa matches.

Veracruz 1 – Dorados 2:
Six total yellow cards were handed out in this one, as Dorados opened up some space through tactics and through physicality. Hibert Ruiz opened the scoring in the match at 19’ to put Los Tiburones ahead 1-0. About 20 minutes later, the match’s first yellow card was given to Vinicio Angulo before the teams went to the locker room with the one goal between them. Referee Eduardo Galván Basulto did what he could to get the game under control after halftime, handing Francisco Contreras a yellow at 46’. Dorados made two substitutions, bringing on Facundo Juarez at 53’ and Luis Jerez Silva at 60’, to try for the equalizer. In the 62nd minute, Vinicio Angulo broke through with a right-footed shot off a redirected pass to knot the game at 1. Veracruz and the Sinaloans both made their final substitutions and each received yellows before the 82nd minute. Then, Angulo found himself at the right place and time to shoot into a wide open net for the match winner.

Both teams would receive another yellow before the full time whistle blew, but the match ended 1-2 in favor of Dorados. The clubs will each face Club America in their next Copa MX match.

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Atlas 1 – Atletico Zacatepec 2:
In my opinion, this was the best match of the night. Both squads were playing with intensity, but Zacatepec, in particular, pressed high up the field, aggressively bringing their game to Atlas. It was that intensity that led to Juan de Dios Hernandez (13’) getting to the ball off a goalkeeper deflection for an easy tap in. Atlas had a couple chances, but Zacatepec’s keeper, Gerson Marin, was up to the task, making a couple nice saves to keep Atlas off the scoresheet. After halftime, the clubs kept the aggressive play going. It was a very back-and-forth affair, until Christopher Trejo pulled Atlas back even in the 76th minute. He dribbled between a couple defenders for a cool shot from the middle of the box that snuck its way past Marin’s outstretched left leg. Zacatepec continued to press and kept their aggressive approach culminating in a beauty of a goal from Oscar Macias (88’) from the left side of the box.

Los Caneros held on through stoppage time to secure the three points. CA Zacatepec and Los Zorros de Atlas are now looking at matches against Cruz Azul in the Copa MX.

Juarez 0 – Tijuana 0:
Tijuana and Juarez split the points in this one. A great opportunity for Juarez in minute 17, when Luis Michel just got enough of his fingertips on a Leandro Carrijo shot to prevent a goal. Juarez would then hit the crossbar with a Ramon Navarro shot before Xolos’ forward Erik Torres had a shot redirected off the goal by a Juarez defender before the halftime whistle blew.
Leandro Carrijo would be denied again by Michel in minute 52, a header off a pass to the center of the box. The game almost had its goal in the 90th minute when Xolos’ Miler Bolanos looked for Daniel Lopez in the area, but the Lopez shot went high. The 0-0 draw leaves both teams with 1 point heading into their next Copa match against Toluca.