Opening 2024

The leader Cruz Azul appeared late at the Hidalgo stadium. For more than 40 minutes an erratic, unrecognizable team played, and went down with two goals on the scoreboard. But once their match plan worked, with the same degree of difficulty as always and the expulsion included of Sergio Damián Barreto for a strong tackle on Luis Romo, La Maquina came from behind to win 4-2 and remain at the top of the Liga Mx.

For at least five days, the level of the celestial team does not stand up to any comparison. On any court he produces countless chances, moves the ball and reaches the area with ease, which is not always reflected with scores. Last night, the Tuzos showed their hierarchy. They did not fear a stage full of blue shirts, nor the overflowing praise that accompanied their rival.

When the festive atmosphere of the stage forced them to compete, the players of the Hidalgo squad found greater alternatives to seek victory. Sergio Adrián Hernández (12) and Venezuelan Salomón Rondón (42), authors of the first and second goals, showed that with a shirt they do not feel intimidated. The two made the mistakes of Willer Ditta and goalkeeper Kevin Mier more acute, who stumbled in different actions and left the path clear to the net.

It was more than 40 minutes without any sign of The Machine. Difficult situation for coach Martín Anselmi, but enough to awaken a new demonstration of character in his team. The Greek Giorgos Giakoumakis, so questioned for his irregularity, tied the scores at the end of the first half and beginning of the second (45 and 55), already when the referee Adonai Escobedo had sent off Barreto for an iron on Luis Romo.

To put things in the expected place, the Uruguayan Lorenzo Faravelli made an acrobatic shot in the six-yard box, in a cross from Carlos Rotondi’s wing, and thus completed the celestial comeback (66). Ángel Sepúlveda crowned the great reaction in a counterattack to make it 4-1 (90+1)

With 25 points in 10 dates, the leadership of the Liga Mx remains in the hands of La Maquina.

Diablura al Atlas

Toluca is what it seems. Sometimes it crashes, but it immediately attends to its daily performance. Yesterday at the Nemesio Diez stadium he reflected his winning gene. When the Atlas players frowned, the Devils waited for no one. They won 4-1 and, with this, left behind the criticism that their game sometimes produces, especially for its lack of forcefulness.

As generally happens in soccer, the team that dominates the ball ends up winning. It is true that the difference in the result does not explain the dominance of the reds in the first half, but it serves as an act of justice. In 10 games, those led by Portuguese coach Renato Paiva are already in second place in the League with 21 points, four less than the leader Cruz Azul.