Atlante Come From Behind To Stop Diablos

Atlante kept their Liguilla hopes intact after defeating the then SuperLider Toluca. Atlante came out on top 3-2 despite falling behind early. Carlos Esquivel gave Toluca the lead in the 1st minute. Rafael Marquez pulled Atlante even in the 32nd minute. Santiago Solari made it 2-1 in the second half for Atlante. Marquez capped off his night with an 83rd minute penalty. Mancilla scored the last one in the 89th minute but it was too late then.

Atlante have a very good chance of taking the 7th or 8th spot in the Liguilla with Tonight's result. Toluca are already qualified but lost the SuperLider spot thanks to the loss and to a Morelia victory.

First Half

With the Liguilla all secured Toluca should have played conservative but they came out the opposite for the encounter.

After only one minute of play Carlos Esquivel gave Toluca the early lead. Antonio Naelson "Zinha" played a diagonal inside the box which found an open Esquivel. The midfielder had a simple tap in to give Toluca an early 1-0 lead.

Atlante tried to get back even in the 6th minute. Santiago Solari received the ball just inside the box before taking a shot. Solari's shot did not trouble Alfredo Talavera who saw the ball coming the whole way.

Guillermo Rojas wanted in on the action for Atlante. Rojas carried the ball through the left in the 9th minute. Rojas took aim despite having no angle. The shot came close as it sailed over the bar. Rafael Marquez Lugo also wanted in but his header in the 11th minute went straight to the hands of Talavera.

Toluca kept pressing forward with Hector Mancilla and Nestor Calderon.

Calderon and Mancilla almost connected in the 18th minute. Calderon drove the ball into the box and tried to give the ball back to an open Hector Mancilla. Federico Vilar though was well alert and intervened before anything happened.

Toluca looked to have this one locked but Atlante came back in the 32nd minute. Jose Joel Gonzalez gave the ball inside the box to Rafael Marquez. Marquez carried the ball for a few yards before having a go. The ball beat Talavera and pulled Atlante back into the game.

The tempo began to slow and the first half ended in a 1-1 tie.

Second Half

The second half saw a more determined Atlante take the field.

Atlante were causing havoc on Toluca's end but could not find the last touch that was needed. "Los Potros" saw plenty of opportunities go to waste thanks to bad passes and bad shots.

Toluca did very little offensively and about the only try they had was a bad miss from long distance by Mancilla in the 65th minute.

Atlante was the inspired team and they showed it in the 66th minute.  Santiago Solari received a great ball from Marquez. Solari beat Talavera and drilled it into the net. Atlante took a 2-1 lead.

Toluca tried to get back into it but Atlante's defense held strong in the back. Both Zinha and Esquivel were sending crosses into the box but either no one was there or the Potros defense took care of it.

The night was not yet over for Atlante though.

Edgar Dueñas pushed Christian "El Hobit" Bermedez inside the box and a penalty was awarded in the 83rd minute. Marquez lined up to take the shot and nailed it giving Atlante a 3-1 lead.

Toluca would get one back before the game ended. Gerardo Castillo was called for a hand ball inside of the box and a penalty was awarded to Toluca in the 89th minute. Mancilla took the shot and made it 3-2. Atlante held on in the dying minutes to win, 3-2.

Sylvestre Adame, Goal.com

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