Atlas pulls big upset in Interliga
Club America, Mexico’s wealthiest soccer team, showed up at the sold-out Home Depot Center on Friday night as if its Interliga game against Atlas of Guadalajara were nothing but a formality.
Unless it lost by three goals, America was certain of a place in one of Sunday’s two finals, the winners of which will earn berths in the prestigious and lucrative Copa Libertadores tournament, South America’s equivalent of the European Champions League.
So what happened? Nothing but bad news for the yellow- and blue-clad fans of Las Aguilas (the Eagles).
A stupendous goal by forward Jorge Achucarro in the second minute of injury time capped a 4-1 upset victory for Atlas and dealt a huge psychological and financial blow to Club America.
The loss could well mark the beginning of the end of Ramon Diaz’s reign as coach.
Atlas, meanwhile, will go on to play Pachuca on Sunday afternoon for a place in the Copa Libertadores. Sunday’s other final, also with a Copa spot on the line, will feature Morelia against Chivas de Guadalajara, which defeated the UANL Tigres, 4-2, late Friday (see match report at latimes.com/sports).
Even on Sunday, Atlas’ upset win on Friday night is expected to cause a buzz among America’s stunned fans, who are likely to find Diaz at fault.
Not recognizing the threat posed by a lively Atlas team with nothing to lose, Diaz opted to leave such talented players as defender Edgar Castillo, midfielder Jean Beausejour and forward Robert De Pinho on the bench. It was a costly mistake.
By halftime, the highly paid and highly touted America team trailed, 2-1, having taken a 1-0 lead on a fifth-minute goal by Andres Chitiva before yielding goals to Gonzalo Vargas in the 19th minute and Bruno Marioni in the 36th.
By the 65th minute, America was down, 3-1, after a delightful goal by 18-year-old Atlas midfielder Edgar Pacheco.
Atlas continued to carry the attack, and America and Mexico national team goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, at fault on the first two Atlas goals, never looked secure in his net. Achucarro’s last-minute goal had Atlas Coach Dario Franco and his assistants dancing on the sideline.
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