Lots of action in Liga MX this weekend, including wonder strikes from distance, a double penalty save, impossible angles, an improbable comeback, and Atlas manager dancing Tomas Boy dancing like no one was watching. Here’s everything you might have missed:
1. Goal of the year candidate gives America lead in Clasico
This is the stuff dreams are made of. Paul Aguilar got the ball with a good deal of space about 30 yards from goal and decided to charge forward and hit it with his right foot. The result was a stunning, swerving ball that found the upper 90 and bounced in off the bottom of the crossbar. As if to counteract the beauty, the Mexican international went with just about the worst dance move you’ll ever see as his celebration. The match finished knotted at 1-1.
2. Damian Alvarez scoops it in from midfield on way to double
Tigres is still alive in both Liga MX and Copa Libertadores, but Damian Alvarez showed no signs of distraction. He focused on the goal here, getting a bit of space as he was trying to work in and took advantage, beating his defender with a quick cut to the right and scooping a shot in from distance. Alvarez doubled down by scoring the third for Tigres in a 3-0 triumph over Queretaro.
3. Sergio Garcia stops penalty, rebound to preserve clean sheet
It’s not often an account dedicated to a certain team makes a YouTube video highlighting the opposing goalkeeper, but it’s not often a keeper turns in a performance like Sergio Garcia did Saturday in a 1-0 win against Cruz Azul. The most stunning moment of the excellent afternoon was when the Chiapas shot-stopper dove to his right to deflect away Roque Santa Cruz and again used his legs to deny Fausto Pinto from the rebound.
4. Geometry means little to Toluca with pass, goal from improbable angles
It’s tough to decide which was more exquisitely placed, this pass from Carlos Esquivel to spring Lucas Lobos free or the finish from the former Tigres star to kill off this match Sunday afternoon. Esquivel is in contention to go to the Copa America with the Mexican national team, as is Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo, but the Red Devil got the better of the Xolo on Sunday in the 2-0 Toluca win.
5. Atlas comes back to make Leon rue terrible penalty
Gonzalo Rios probably was feeling pretty good when he stepped up to the spot in the 66th minute. One of Atlas’ best defenders, Walter Kannemann, had just been sent off after getting his second yellow card and Rios had the chance to extend Leon’s lead to 3-1. Instead, he took a slow run-up and sent it well wide of the post. Atlas converted a penalty of its own and scored in stoppage time to take the victory. That had manager Tomas Boy like: