Pumas knock out No. 1 América, No. 2 Atlas next
Liga MX refs leave a lot to be desired
Marco Antonio Ortiz did a decent job in the América-Pumas match but a questionable decision (or non-decision) in minute 55 might have been the difference in the match. Just two minutes after a well-earned yellow card, Pumas left back Efraín Velarde ran up the back of second-half sub Sebastián Córdova who was cutting toward the box with room to operate. Ortiz properly whistled the foul, but declined to show Velarde a second yellow, a decision that would have been harsh but would certainly have been defensible. Playing against 10 men, América might have gotten the goal it needed to advance to the Liga MX semifinals.
In the Atlas-Monterrey match, ref César Ramos did his best Frank Drebin impression in minute 15 after Zorros left back Luis Reyes went down in a heap inside the box. As players from both teams stared at him wondering what the call would be, Ramos half-heartedly pointed to the spot and said: “Penalty?” Naturally, the fans at Estadio Jalisco erupted in cheers, and exulted joyously minutes later when Julio Furch converted to put the Zorros up 1-0. Video replay did not show convincing evidence that a foul was committed, and Ramos did not go to the booth to review the play. The call turned out to be decisive.
dark. Next. No. 3 León, No. 4 Tigres face deficits
Ramos also allowed Rayados players to get away with flops throughout the match (I think I saw two Rayados take a dive during the national anthem then complain about not earning a free kick) and didn’t clearly establish that he was charge as play got testy later on, nearly allowing some pushing and shoving to result in a free-for-all. Calmer heads prevailed, but it was not a good performance by the former consensus “best Liga MX official.”