In Sunday's Clasico Tapatio between Chivas and Atlas, one team dominated. For most of the game, Chivas controlled possession, had 11 players to Atlas' 10 and were constantly threatening to score.
But it was Atlas who walked away the winners as Bruno Marioni scored a penalty kick late to give los Rojinegros a 1-0 win.
"Derby games are like that," Atlas' Lucas Ayala said. "You win how you can and it doesn't matter if you play quality football."
Atlas went down a man in the 26th minute but the club was far from throwing in the towel afterward.
"I have to congratulate the players," Atlas manager Ricardo Lavolpe said. "More than ever, they understand now that games last 90 minutes and you need to always keep your composure until the very end."
The only moment in which Atlas were not focused was midway through the first half, when goalkeeper Francisco Canales was sent off for a challenge on a Chivas player in the middle of the field.
"I don't regret it," Canales said of his efforts. "I feel that I came out properly. 'Venado' (Alberto Medina) had gotten behind us. Perhaps had I not gone out they would have scored on us."
On the play, Canales raced out of the penalty area and prevented Medina to walk into the area alone on him. However, the ball caromed back toward the middle of the field. Canales raced towards it, slid and tackled Sergio Amaury Ponce.
"What I do regret is that I did not wait to see if it would fall to someone from Atlas or Chivas," Canales said. "I should have gotten back in position quickly but that's that. I made a decision and I can't do anything about it."
Chivas controlled possession from then on but were not rewarded with a goal, in large part due to a strong mental effort from Atlas.
"(Chivas) had the ball a lot but we knew how to break them down and the players were very intelligent," Lavolpe said. "Except for the crosses they got in due to the fact that they have players of high quality, I can say that (Sunday) was perfect."
Monday, March 16, 2009
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