Vargas, Furch lead ‘Rojinegros’ to Liga MX glory in shootout

Moments after Camilo Vargas stopped a second León penalty kick, Julio Furch converted from the spot to propel Atlas to its first Liga MX title in more than 70 years.

Estadio Jalisco – bedecked in black and red – erupted in gleeful roar and celebrations broke out all across Guadalajara.

The Apertura 2021 Final went to penalty kicks after regulation and overtime ended with the Zorros ahead 1-0. An opportunistic minute-55 goal by Atlas skipper Aldo Rocha was the only goal of the game, leaving the aggregate score at 3-3.

Vargas’ clutch saves in the shoot-out served as redemption after the Colombian goalie was rightly criticized following a shaky first-leg performance.

Atlas executes game plan to perfection

“Los Rojinegros” ended a seven-decade dry spell in claiming its second-ever Liga MX championship. Their dramatic win comes just over six months after Cruz Azul put its own 23-year title drought to bed.

Atlas was the better team for long stretches of Sunday’s game, but also benefited from a few close calls.

The Zorros outshot León 20-11 and if not for a spectacular night from León keeper Rodolfo Cota, this game might have been over early. Cota made eight saves on the night and Atlas hit metal with two other shots. Edgar Zaldívar also missed a sure goal in minute 81 when, all alone at the back post, he was unable to guide a header into the net, instead angling it back toward the middle of the goal and right into Cota’s hands.

The goal came off a corner kick which ricocheted high to the top of the box where Jeremy Márquez scuffed a left-footed volley attempt, bouncing it toward the back post. Rocha had circled around behind his marker and he leaped, redirecting the ball just enough to hamstring Cota who flailed at the sphere as it zipped by him.

As players and fans exulted, ref Marco Antonio Ortiz waited for a report from upstairs as VAR officials were checking the video to see if Rocha had been offside. After a three-minute delay, Ortiz pointed to the center circle, confirming the goal.

Later in the second half, León winger Angel Mena was chasing a through-pass into the box when he went down in a heap, pleading for a penalty call. None was forthcoming (and video evidence was not clear).

The situation turned even more dire for the Esmeraldas when sub Emmanuel Gigliotti was shown a red card late in regulation time, forcing the visitors to play the entire overtime period a man down.

Neither team threatened in the first extra period, but “La Fiera” made a late bid when Fernando Navarro sent Elías Hernández into the box on the back side with space. Vargas raced off his line and smothered the attempted centering pass to stamp out the danger.

In the shootout, Vargas stopped the second León shot but Atlas captain Rocha immediately banged his effort off the outside of the left post leaving the score tied at 1-1. Veteran Luis Montes stepped up for the Esmeraldas’ fifth, but Vargas guessed right and got both hands on the low shot.

That brought up Furch and the burly Argentine fired a worm-burner that zipped under Cota’s outstretched arm and rippled the back of the net.