During the first minutes of the game, El Más Querido de México took over the ball completely with long possessions and high pressure over Atlas’ defensive line. However, as time elapsed, both strategies neutralized each other, and it became a rough midfield battle with slim to none dangerous chances and plenty of rough game and fouls.
So disputed was the game, that the only clear chance of the first half arrived in minute 12 as Isaac Brizuela fired a shot from a very long distance and the ball was caught by Vargas.
Little changed during the second half until Víctor Vucetich changed tactics and players which ultimately proved to be the right call.
The only chance for the home team was registered in minute 67 when Toño Rodríguez continued to display his fantastic playing form and saved a close-range shot spectacularly.
In minute 80, Chivas took the lead thanks to a fantastic solo play by Alexis Vega who delivered a great ball to Zaldivar who proceeded to pull a real trick play to send the ball into the back of the net.
Next week, El Rebaño Sagrado will wrap up Guard1anes 2020 regular season and will try to secure a Repechaje spot when they host Tigres at Estadio Akron.
Atlas 0-1 Guadalajara
(Ángel Zaldívar 80’)
Referee: Fernando Hernández Gómez
Estadio Jalisco
Lineups:
Atlas: 12 Camilo Vargas; 27 Jesús Angulo, 2 Martín Nervo, 5 Anderson Santamaría, 15 Diego Barbosa, 26 Aldo Rocha (YC 43’) (11 Javier Correa 90’), 218 Jeremy Márquez (6 Édgar Zaldívar 78’), 7 Ignacio Malcorra (199 Ozziel Herrera 85’), 8 Renato Ibarra (YC 28’), 20 Jairo Torres (28 Brayan Trejo 85’), 18 Milton Caraglio (9 Julio Furch 78’).
Coach. Diego Cocca
Guadalajara: 4 Antonio Rodríguez; 17 Jesús Sánchez (YC 65’) (6 César Huerta 78’) (YC 90’+5’), 3 Gilberto Sepúlveda, 35 Luis Olivas, 16 Miguel Ponce, 5 Jesús Molina (30 Sergio Flores 67’), 11 Isaac Brizuela, 19 Jesús Angulo (14 Antonio Briseño 88’), 15 Uriel Antuna (20 Fernando Beltrán 67’), 7 Alexis Vega, 9 José Juan Macías (13 Ángel Zaldívar 46’).
Coach. Víctor Manuel Vucetich
