My first look at Cruz Azul post-Omar Bravo acquisition was an interesting one, but a match against Atlas really isn't that big of a test. Though it's a little more difficult on the road. Atlas are getting to the point where they're playing for their top flight lives, so one might be excused for thinking they'd play with a little more fire. It just wasn't there.
They got themselves into some trouble right off the bat as Jorge Zamogilny was hit with a yellow card in the very first minute of play. However, they did go on to create a couple of half chances in the opening minutes. By they I mean Giancarlos Maldonando. He forced a save out of Jesus Corona in the 5th minute, and sent a shot wide in the 11th. It was pretty much downhill from there for Atlas.
After about 15 minutes, Cruz Azul started to get more active and slowly but surely took control of the match. Vela-Garrido put a nice shot on target to test the 'keeper in the 24th, and Omar Bravo made his presence felt in the next minute by sending in a shot that just drifted off target. Finally Azul broke the ice in the 40th as Fausto Pinto sent a gorgeous ball in that ended up going to Emanuel Villa, who easily slotted it home to put Cruz up 0-1 going into the interval.
Azul pretty much controlled the second half with the exception of one major mistake that almost cost them points. In the 77th minute Nestor Araujo blatantly brought down Atlas's Mauricio Romero in the box to concede a PK. Corona was given a yellow for arguing about it, but it really was obvious. Maldonado, who was about the only player to show up all match long for Atlas, stepped up but had his spot kick nicely saved by Corona to preserve the lead.
The tables were turned just a couple of minutes later as Luis Alatorre brought down Bravo in the Atlas area in the 80th to concede a PK to Azul, Christian Gimenez did not make Maldonado's mistake, and put the ball past the 'keeper to make it 0-2 to Azul, which was the full time result.
Certainly it wasn't the best performance from Cruz Azul, but aside from some anxious moments early and the Atlas penalty, it was pretty comfortable. Atlas is going to have to do a lot better to get on track.
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