Cruz Azul fell 2-1 to Atlante after Willer Ditta’s reckless tackle on Martín Fernández resulted in a penalty. VAR confirmed the call, and Jhohan Julio’s spot-kick secured the win for Atlante, leaving La Máquina with a 2-1 loss in Liga MX. Currently 4th in the standings with 6 points (2W-0D-1L), Cruz Azul trails leaders Club Tijuana by just 1 point.
What happened in the match?
Cruz Azul started strong but failed to convert chances. A defensive mistake led to Luis Fuente’s opener for Atlante. Later, Luis Calzadilla extended the lead with a long-range goal. Nicolás Ibáñez pulled one back for La Máquina, but Ditta’s foul in the box changed the game. VAR confirmed the penalty, and Julio’s conversion made it 1-3 for Atlante.
Why was the penalty controversial?
The referee initially missed the call, but VAR stepped in. Replays showed Ditta’s extended leg caught Fernández after the ball had gone. Despite Cruz Azul’s protests, the penalty stood, exposing their defensive weaknesses. This was their first loss in four games (LWWW), dropping them to 4th place.
What’s next for Cruz Azul?
With Amaury Morales injured, Cruz Azul must prepare for a tough away match against league leaders Club Tijuana on August 17. After scoring 5 goals and conceding 3 this season, they need to improve defensively to stay in the title hunt.
