Pumas knock out No. 1 América, No. 2 Atlas next

Lillini got it right, Solari did not

América held the top of the Liga MX standings since Matchday 3 with a pragmatic approach that relied upon minimizing mistakes and exerting its will. Roster depth and steady play from all three lines were key to its 10-5-2 record, but the Aguilas did not dominate despite running away with the Liga MX regular season title.

What we learned this week is that with pragmatism comes predictability, and UNAM coach Andrés Lillini knew what to expect and countered it perfectly. Lillini inserted speedy forward Washington Corozo into his starting 11 and the Ecuadorian teamed up with Mozo to run circles around the América midfield.

Meanwhile, Solari went conservative, holding out playmaker Sebastián Córdova for a mundane four-man midfield line that featured Fernando Madrigal (who looked like an adult stopping on the way home to play a street game in his work shoes) and Álvaro Fidalgo who was given the keys to the offense but was invisible most of the game despite leading the team in ground covered (he might as well have been running laps along the sideline for all the good he did).

Solari also opted to start Roger Martínez up front, a player with slick ball-handling skills but a noticeable disinclination to pass the ball. He also started Mauro Lainez out of position (and Mozo took advantage of him constantly), then failed to make adjustment in a timely fashion despite trailing 2-1 at the half. The former Real Madrid coach is walking on some thin ice.

Portero! Portero!

Atlas goalie Camilo Vargas made a fantastic lunging save to punch away an Alfonso González header that was ticketed for the upper right corner in minute 40 to preserve the Zorros’ 1-0 lead. The Colombia national team netminder finally conceded in minute 73, but he was a beast in the box intercepting crosses and punching out centering passes with aplomb, demonstrating why is likely to earn Liga MX Goalie of the Year honors.

In Saturday’s other Liga MX quarterfinal, Pumas keeper Alfredo Talavero raced off his line in minute 16 and deflected a Henry Martín shot just 5 minutes after the Aguilas had taken the lead on a penalty shot. Going down two goals in that spot might have been all she wrote for UNAM, but the big save kept the Pumas in the game. “Tala” made another nice save in minute 29 with the score tied 1-1, diving to his right to smother a low Mauro Lainez drive.