Atlas Finish Up What They Started Last Week.

By: Mauro | May 7th, 2008

Atlas

In my preview of this match I had said that Atlas had the advantage and I was not wrong. While they were able to maintain their undefeated status in the competition, they failed to hold off Lanús completely. Atlas needed only a draw to qualify since they got the away goal last week.

Lanús came on strong in the beginning of the match with José Sand and Lautaro Acosta (back from injury) up front but Atlas held tough on defense. Atlas has a great core of players, one really good player in each line on the pitch. Up front, Bruno Marioni, in the middle, Ulises Mendivil and Diego Colotto at the back. It’s on these three players that Atlas rely so much on.

In the 31st minute, Marioni showed his worth off a mistake by Agustín Pelletieri, where he was able to beat Lanús keeper Carlos Bossio and score from a crazy tight angle. 1-0 to Atlas.

In the second half, Atlas gave up the ball and this is where Lanús had the upper hand. In the 64th minute, José Sand put the ball away after a great play by Maximiliano Velázquez to pull his team level. 1-1. Atlas keeper Jorge Bava kept his squad from leaking another goal by stonewalling Lanús twice.

Marioni appeared again, only this time to serve up an assist to Ulises Mendivil who nutmegged Bossio for the second goal. 2-1 Atlas. Acosta brought Lanús level in the 91st minute but it was all too little, too late.

The 1-0 gives Marioni seven goals in this competition, one behind Cruzeiro’s Marcelo Martins Moreno who has eight. Marioni is quickly becoming the hot finisher of the competition, with two very technical goals in this tie. One in this match and one in the away match last week.

I chalk up Lanús’ poor showing in this cup and in the Argentine Clausura (where they are dead last) to player fatigue, injuries and lack of the starting team’s time on the pitch together. Atlas on the other hand, seem to be stomping through this competition and doing decently at home (definitely not last in Mexico) on the backs of some truly quality players.

Atlas face the winner of Cruzeiro-Boca draw, where Boca have a 2-1 advantage traveling to Brazil. Atlas and Boca could re-play their matches from the first round where Atlas won 3-1 at home and lost 3-0 at Boca. With those results Boca could have eliminated them. The away goal is super important here since it afforded Atlas the qualification into the quarter-finals.

I had this match as a draw 1-1 but it went 2-2. Not bad. A draw is a draw in my book, even if it’s 14-14. Woo Hoo! I also had Marioni and Mendevil being quite important in this one as well. I rock, today.

Check the CONMEBOL website for results, stats and upcoming matches.