Atlas, Morelia edge out wins in Liga MX playoff openers
In-form Matia Alustiza (pictured) scored the only goal in Atlas' win over visiting Guadalajara in a Liga MX Clausura quarterfinal, first-leg encounter on May 11, 2017, in Guadalajara, Mexico (Photo: Sabik Sanchez/Straffon Images)
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Atlas and Morelia each edged out 1-0 home wins over Guadalajara and Club Tijuana, respectively, to grab the advantage in their Liga MX Liguilla quarterfinal match-ups.
CONCACAF.com looks back Thursday’s action:
2017 Liga MX Clausura Playoffs
Quarterfinals, First Leg
May 10, 2017
Atlas 1, Guadalajara 0
Matias Alustiza 30’ pen
- Matias Alustiza’s penalty kick at the half-hour mark was enough to hand Atlas a 1-0 win over Guadalajara-city rival Chivas at the Estadio Jalisco.
- Atlas forward Daniel Alvarez was brought down in the Guadalajara area in the 28th minute, and two minutes later Alustiza converted the spot kick for his ninth-career goal against Chivas.
- Alustiza now has nine goals the 2017 Clausura (8 regular season, 1 playoffs) and has scored in three of his last four matches.
- Guadalajara is winless in its last six matches (0W-3D-3L).
- Guadalajara will host Atlas in the second leg on Sunday at the Estadio Chivas.
Morelia 1, Club Tijuana 0
Miguel Sansores 11’
- Morelia stunned top-seeded Club Tijuana with a 1-0 win thanks to Miguel Sansores’ 11th-minute goal.
- Sansores was able to get on the end of Jefferson Cuero’s cross from the left and slid in a right-footed shot that may have taken a deflection off Club Tijuana goalkeeper Manuel Lajud, before seeking inside the right post.
- The news wasn’t all good for Morelia though, as team and Clausura leading scorer Raul Ruidiaz (9 goals) left the field in the first half with an injury.
- Morelia has won three straight games, allowing only one goal over that stretch.
- Club Tijuana has lost in its last two away games and was shutout in both.
- Club Tijuana will host Morelia in the second leg on Sunday at the Estadio Caliente.