Atlas 1 – 0 Chivas: Karma Exists

By: Alan | March 15th, 2009

What a game, this was the type of game you make movies out of, movies that go straight to DVD but that are actually pretty good if you give them a chance. As our protagonist we have Atlas, all of Atlas because today that’s who won the game, true in the end it was Marioni who scored the winning goal, but every single Atlas player left their hearts out in the field and in the end came out on top.

The game started off very fast paced, you could tell that both teams knew this derby wasn’t only about pride but carried with it some very big implications about entering the liguilla. However, this fast pace was a double edged sword and in the 20th minute Torres Nilo had to leave the field due to an injury sustained when his body twisted every which way that wasn’t good.

Okay, forced to make a substitute in the 20th minute, not ideal but not bad, right?. But the football gods were not done doing a Job job on Atlas, not by a long shot.

In the 26th minute Chivas player, hereafter referred to as las birrias, Amaury Ponce decided to take a dive that resulted in Atlas goalie being sent off. I mean this was diving to it’s best, Ponce was not only not touched by Canales he had the indecency to stay on the pitch flailing until the medical cart escorted him out, only to be completely healed in the 30 second drive from the pitch to the sideline. So recap, 26th minute you’re playing with 10 men AND you’ve wasted 2 substitutions.

After that las birrias saw more of the ball as Atlas played defensive football, not wanting to commit too many players to offense less they fall victim to a counter-attack with a man down. They also were forced to sacrifice el Pollo Botinelli to bring in third string keeper Alejandro Gallardo. Gallardo had never played in the first division, let alone an inter-city derby, but he manned up and had a great game.

The second half belonged almost exclusively to las birrias, presumably coach La Volpe had instructed Atlas to not get too careless. For most of the game Atlas defended an onslaught of crosses, corner kicks (15 total), and other birria shenanigans. Atlas counted on the mercy of the crossbar to help maintain a 0-0 game.

Things were tough for Atlas but at least nothing bad had come of their defensive stance, until Rergis who had come on for the injured Torres Nilo had to leave the field due to injury. Atlas was forced on all three of their substitutions, but the ref, referred to as el chiqui dracula, was not done and decided to expel coach La Volpe from the field, why not right? I bet if el chiqui dracula had seen an Atlas waterboy he’d have expelled him too.

Then the skies cleared and the football gods declared their love for Atlas. In the 89th minute on an Atlas counterattack and their only real attacking possession of the second half they were awarded a penalty as Hector Reynoso decided to ride Ismael Fuentes, presumably because he was tired of walking.

The stage was set: 0-0 89th minute Marioni to take a penalty that would pretty much win the game. The run up, the kick, the goalie goes left, the ball goes to the right squeezing the post and rattles the net. The stadium explodes, no self respecting Atlas fan was not screaming at the top of their lungs.

The moral of the story: karma does exist ladies and gentlemen, maybe sometimes she’s late but she’ll always get there.

AWANTE ATLAS