Atlas achieved the necessary result against Tigres (1-1) to qualify for the Liguilla in the Apertura 2017 of Liga MX. Milton Caraglio's penalty gave the 'zorros' the right point to overtake Cruz Azul. Meanwhile, the felinos couldn't get closer to the leader Monterrey.
Luis 'Chaka' Rodríguez scored first for Tigres at Jalisco, but then came Caraglio's penalty to equalize for Atlas. In the end, both teams settled for the draw due to the suspended match in the 8th round of the Liga MX caused by the earthquake that hit Mexico in September.
The sad part of the Atlas vs Tigres match was the terrible injury suffered by goalkeeper Óscar Ustari. The Argentine goalkeeper suffered a compound fracture of his left knee and had to be carried out on a stretcher to a hospital. Tears rolled down the goalkeeper's face as the fans showed their support with applause from the stands.
Tigres vs Atlas – Lineups
Atlas: Óscar Ustari, Rafa Márquez, Facundo Erpen, Daniel Arreola, Ravel Morrison, Javier Salas, Alejandro Tabó, Ricardo Reyes, Milton Caraglio, José Madueña, Bryan Garnica. Coach: José Guadalupe Cruz.
Tigres: Nahuel Guzmán, Juninho, Hugo Ayala, Jorge Torres Nilo, Rafael Carioca, Jesús Dueñas, Javier Aquino, Luis Rodríguez, André-Pierre Gignac, Eduardo Vargas, Enner Valencia. Coach: Ricardo Ferretti.
Stadium: Jalisco, Guadalajara.
Time: 09:00 p.m. (Mexico)
Broadcast channel: Azteca 7 / ESPN 2
Óscar Ustari's terrible injury
It can't be. A tragedy what happened to Ustari. #Fuerza @23Osky pic.twitter.com/KfS3yZ8p1t
Atlas vs Tigres – Preview
Atlas has gone five games without a win, four of them with defeats, and has not recovered from the absence of their leader, defender Rafael Márquez, who has been out of football since appearing on a list by the United States Department of the Treasury for alleged links to drug trafficking.
They are in thirteenth place and this Friday they will try to take advantage of their home condition to end their poor streak.
Coach José Guadalupe Cruz will try to build an offensive scheme led by Argentine Matías Alustiza, but they must stay well organized at the back to not be overcome by the powerful offense of the 'felinos' led by Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferretti.
Tigres are third in the standings with three wins, three draws, one loss, and 12 points, five less than the leader Rayados de Monterrey, their biggest rival.
"We expect the best Atlas, it will be a tough opponent on their field and we will go out to play our game," said Tigres defender Jorge Torres Nilo.