Fansided

Liga MX: Stunning Zacatepec comeback knocks Atlas out of Copa MX

By Thomas Buckley

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - AUGUST 24: Cristian Calderon #26 of Atlas reacts after losing the game, the 7h round match between Atlas and Chivas as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Jalisco Stadium on August 24, 2018 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - AUGUST 24: Cristian Calderon #26 of Atlas reacts after losing the game, the 7h round match between Atlas and Chivas as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Jalisco Stadium on August 24, 2018 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Second division Zacatepec scored twice in the game’s final 10 minutes to stun 10-man Atlas and reach the Round of 16 in the Copa MX. The Zorros failed to protect a 2-1 lead that would have seen them advance out of Group 6 as the leader, but now find themselves going home.

Second-half sub Ronaldo Cisneros converted a penalty kick in minute 86 only 3 minutes after Jonathan Valdivia equalized with a left-footed blast from the top of the penalty that Atlas goalie José Hernández could only get one hand on. Valdivia had entered in minute 69, just 4 minutes after Zorros midfielder Jair Torres had been shown a red card.

Torres picked up two silly yellow cards in a 6-minutes span and both were deserved. In minute 59, Torres held Kevin Magaña as he tried to escape down the left flank and in minute 65 Torres rashly tackled Armando González in midfield. In neither case was a foul necessary to stop a scoring threat and the 18-year-old midfielder really cost his team with his bad judgment.

For the first 15 minutes after the ejection, the Zorros seemed the more likely to score and extend their 2-1 lead. Jefferson Duque – who scored both Atlas goals in the first half – shook free inside the box but failed to get off a shot and Andrés Andrade hit the post after working a nifty give-and-go with Ricky Álvarez.

More from Viva Liga MX

Then Zacatepec began pressing forward, maintaining possession in their offensive third as the shorthanded Zorros scrambled to protect their lead.

New Atlas coach Guillermo Hoyos lost in his debut. Zorros management fired Gerardo Espinoza after the team’s 0-2-6 start to the league season. Atlas finally scored its first league goal in Matchday 8.

Atlas would have topped its Copa MX group with a win and would have even advanced with a tie, but the collapse against Zacatepec continues their horrid season. The Cañeros’ victory means they finish second to Cruz Azul, claiming the No. 14 seed.

Zacatepec’s win means four second division clubs reached the Copa MX Round of 16. The other three clubs are the Dorados of Sinaloa (with new coach Diego Maradona), the Bravos of Juárez and the Cafateleros of Tapachula.

On to the knockout stages

Thursday’s match concluded the Apertura 2018 Copa MX group stage and the Round of 16 match-ups have now been set. The knockout stage is a single-elimination game played at the stadium of the higher-ranked team. The Round of 16 games will take place on Sept. 25 and 26.

Top-seeded América will face No. 16 Juárez and the winner faces the victor of the Tijuana-Cruz Azul match-up. This could produce a América-Cruz Azul clash in the quarterfinals.

No. 4 Guadalajara will host No. 13 UNAM in the best pairing of the Round of 16. The winner faces either defending champion Necaxa or León and that game will take place in Aguascalientes at the home of No. 5 seed Necaxa.

In the lower half of the bracket, No. 2 Pachuca takes on No. 15 Tapachula while No. 7 Tigres host No. 10 Puebla. This could produce an attractive Pachuca vs Tigres quarterfinal which would be a replay of this weekend’s game at Estadio Hidalgo.

Finally, No. 3 Monterrey will entertain No. 13 Zacatecas and winner moves on to face the victor of the Querétaro-Sinaloa meeting.

Home/Copa MX