On Thursday, Atlas team president Pedro Portilla said the Argentine’s job is safe and the front office is focused on supplying Cufre with reinforcements for the Clausura 2020 season. After Friday night’s loss, the Zorros can probably kiss their playoff hopes good-bye because they must serve their bye on Matchday 18. Staying in Guadalajara, Atlas coach Leandro Cufre received the dreaded “vote of confidence.” After Atlas was routed by the Pumas 5-1 on Wednesday, there were whispers that Cufre’s job was in danger. Instead, he could be a target for Ricardo Peláez as he searches for the next Chivas coach. “Memo” will be out of contract at the end of this season and “Cancha” reported Friday that he is not inclined to sign a new contract. Necaxa fans are likely alarmed at the latest rumor involving coach Guillermo Vázquez. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images) Necaxa head coach Guillermo Vazquez could be the next Chivas manager. As Reyes lunged for a tackle, Ibáñez got his toe on the ball and it trickled into the net in minute 90+3. The ball bounced down the field with San Luis striker Nicolás Ibáñez and Atlas midfielder Lorenzo Reyes in hot pursuit, Vargas trailing behind. Quickly, the Tuneros goalie punted the ball downfield as Vargas tried to race back into position. With time winding down and Atlas in desperate need of a win, Vargas moved upfield to participate in a corner kick but Fernández got his hands on the ball. San Luis also created several dangerous counterattacks, forcing Vargas to come up big too. Atlas moved their lines forward with determination, but goalie Carlos Fernández was up to the task, making several sparkling saves. Why the United States Is Set to Overtake Mexico on the World StageĮight minutes later, San Luis went down to 10 men when captain Mario Alvarez was shown a second yellow card.Pumas: In Search of Regaining a Top Spot.The Tuneros regained their footing in the second half, benefiting from a deflected shot that bounced right into the path of Juan Castro who raced inside the box and slipped the ball under goalie Camilo Vargas to tie the score.
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Maurcio Cuero punched home the goal off a pass from Ulises Cardona in minute 16. The host Zorros dominated the first half but went into the locker room at the break with only a 1-0 lead. With two games remaining, UNAM has 22 points and remains in 9th place and several other playoff contenders (Monterrey and Pachuca, for instance) can move past them with wins. UNAM scored 5 goals on Wednesday night but managed only one against the league’s second-worst defense. The Pumas could not find the net again, settling for a single point when they needed all 3. He had time to pick out his spot and blasted it past Puebla keeper Nicolás Vikonis to knot the score at 1-1. A Pumas centering pass was blocked and trickled out toward the top of the box, but there were no defenders nearby and Juan Iturbe had an unimpeded run at the ball. With only 5 minutes remaining, the Puebla defense bunched together deep in their own box. Puebla soon thereafter fell back into a prevent defense – way too early in my opinion – and did not play it very well, retreating too quickly and allowing the Pumas to control midfield unchallenged.
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Zárate collected a deflected pass just outside the box and fired home a left-footer that Alfredo Saldivar had no chance to stop.
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The two teams failed to generate any dangerous scoring chances in the first half, but left back Jorge Zárate got the host Camoteros on the board at the hour mark. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) The Pumas are down, but are they out? Friday night’s tie at Puebla could be the result that costs the Pumas a playoff spot.