Holders Atlas in trouble; Rayos chase down Puebla
Topsy-turvy season for Liga MX title-holders
Two-time defending Liga MX champions Atlas lost to visiting FC Juárez 1-0 on Tuesday, putting the Zorros three-peat dreams in serious jeopardy.
“Los Rojinegros” lost just four games in each of their title-winning campaigns but they are 2-2-5 this season and in 15th place. Injuries and fatigue have taken the spark out of Diego Cocca’s side, a predictable result of heavy minutes for Atlas’ veterans who played 46 matches in 10 months heading into the Apertura 2022.
Jesús Dueñas scored in minute 65 to give the Bravos the win. The victory leaves FC Juárez with 10 points, the same total they compiled all of last season when they finished in the Liga MX cellar.
Puebla and Necaxa played a rollicking back-and-forth thriller that ended in a 2-2 draw. There were 31 shots in the match, with Rayos goalie Luis Malagón coming up with five big saves.
The host Camoteros got on the scoreboard early when Maxi Araujo gift-wrapped a goal for Martín Barragán, but failed to capitalize on several other first-half opportunities. Necaxa equalized in minute 54 when Facundo Batista volleyed home a delightful service from Angelo Araos.
Jordi Cortizo answered back for Puebla just 10 minutes later with a nifty chipped goal, but the Rayos would not be denied and Agustín Oliveros converted a cross from corner kick when he was left unmarked at the back post in minute 83.
The result keeps Necaxa a point ahead of Puebla, with the surprising Rayos sitting in 4th place (13 points) and the Camoteros in 6th (12 points), behind fifth-place Pachuca on goal differential.
The visiting Rayos twice erased deficits even as Milton Giménez and Facundo Batista took turns squandering scoring chances by looking to make moves into the box instead of first-timing passes.
Puebla is now 0-6-1 since sitting atop the Liga MX table in early July after starting the season with two consecutive wins.
In Mazatlán, the host Cañoneros scored late to deny Querétaro’s late bid for a rare road win. Defender Oswaldo Alanis headed home the equalizer off a corner kick in minute 88, just 4 minutes after a nifty Raúl Torres volley had put the Gallos Blancos in position to win their first game away from home since Feb. 16, 2020. Since that 3-2 win at Necaxa, Querétaro has gone winless in 42 straight road games.
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Matchday 9 continues with three games Wednesday (Monterrey at Toluca, Tijuana at Cruz Azul, América at Pachuca) and two on Thursday (León at Santos and UNAM at Atlético de San Luis).