Liga MX: Pumas blank Atlas, Veracruz ties Monarcas

Week 3 of the Liga MX Apertura 2018 kicked off Friday night with two exciting matches.

Pumas strengthened their hold on first place in Liga MX with a comfortable 3-0 win at Atlas Friday night while Veracruz claimed its first point of the Apertura 2018 season in what is likely to be a year-long battle to avoid relegation.

Atlas 0, UNAM 3

The Zorros self-destructed in a 15-minute sequence early in the first half in which they missed a penalty and were reduced to 10 men. That was all the Pumas needed to coast to victory.

Pumas defender Alejandro Arribas was whistled for a penalty in minute 6 but for the second straight home game Atlas failed to seize the opportunity.

In the season opener, skipper Juan Pablo Vigón was denied late in a 0-0 draw vs Querétaro. This time, Raúl Rivero stepped up to take the spot kick but Pumas goalie Alfredo Saldivar was up to the task, blocking the shot with his left hand as he dived to the right.

Ten minutes later, Atlas goalie José Hernández was the guilty party, spilling a free kick that he should have gathered up. Hustling Pumas midfielder Kevin Escamilla pounced on the ball and roofed it over the prone goalie.

Zorros midfielder Lorenzo Reyes was shown the red card four minutes later (a harsh decision by ref Jorge Antonio Pérez) and Pablo Barrera scored on the ensuing free kick for a 2-0 lead. Zorros winger Brayan Garnica played a role in the goal, leaping sideways to create a gap in the defensive wall through which Barrera’s shot found its way into the corner of the net.

To Atlas’ credit, instead of sagging and falling apart, the young Zorros put up a fight. In minute 25, Garnica saw his apparent goal disallowed when he was called for a handball as he prepared to get the shot off.

For the match, Atlas claimed 56 percent of possession and unleashed 13 shots (only 3 on goal). Pumas coach David Patiño could not have been too pleased with his team’s passive performance but young fullback Alan Mozo put an exclamation point on the victory by charging to the touchline in minute 87 and cutting back a long, low centering pass that found Matías Alustiza who firmly slotted home for the 3-0 final score.

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Veracruz 2, Morelia 2

Morelia will surely regret squandering 2 points in its visit to the port city after allowing the tying goal just before the final whistle.

Ray Sandoval opened the scoring for the Monarcas with a nifty goal in minute 9, skirting around two defenders while dribbling left to right across the top of the box then blasting home on the short side.

Hibert Ruiz knotted the score for Veracruz 30 minutes later, popping a loose ball into the net during a goalmouth scramble off a corner kick.

Morelia enjoyed the better opportunities the remainder of the game, recording 20 shots (6 on goal) while absorbing the majority of fouls as the Tiburones fought to slow down the Morelia attack.

The Monarcas thought they had stolen all 3 points in injury time as Rodolfo Vilchis led a breakout after Veracruz nearly scored on a corner kick. Morelia goalie Sebastián Sosa hurled a lead pass to Vilchis at midfield and he dribbled into the top of the box, stopped and allowed two pursuing defenders to run by, then squared a pass to Carlos Ferreria who easily knocked the ball into the net.

The celebration was short-lived, however. Second-half sub Joe Abrigo took aim from 33 yards and his left-footed blast was deflected up and over a scrambling Sosa, the goalie only able to get a couple of fingers on the ball.

The equalizer earned the Tiburones a point that could prove critical in its relegation battle with Lobos BUAP.

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