In a captivating display of Liga MX football, Atlas and Cruz Azul played out a dramatic 3-3 draw at Estadio Jalisco on Saturday, July 20, 2025. The high-scoring encounter, part of Week 2 of the Torneo Apertura, saw both teams demonstrate resilience and attacking prowess, ultimately splitting the points in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The home side, Atlas, started the match with clear intent, looking to build on their opening-day performance. Their early pressure paid off in the 17th minute when Eduardo Aguirre found the back of the net, giving Atlas a crucial lead. Just 14 minutes later, in the 31st minute, Diego González doubled Atlas’s advantage with an assist from Aguirre, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and establishing a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into halftime. The referee for this intense clash was Luis Enrique Santander Aguirre.
However, the second half unfolded into a relentless back-and-forth battle. Cruz Azul, determined to claw their way back, found their lifeline in the 55th minute when Ángel Sepúlveda converted a penalty kick, halving the deficit. Just three minutes later, Sepúlveda struck again, leveling the score at 2-2 with an assist from Mateusz Bogusz, completing a rapid comeback for the visitors. The momentum seemed to have shifted entirely, but Atlas quickly responded. In the 60th minute, Matheus Dória, assisted by Aldo Rocha, restored Atlas’s lead, making it 3-2 and setting the stage for a thrilling final half-hour.
As the clock ticked down, Cruz Azul pressed hard for an equalizer. Their persistence was rewarded in the 90th minute when Ángel Sepúlveda completed his sensational hat-trick, scoring the dramatic equalizer with an assist from Jose Paradela. This late goal secured a valuable point for Cruz Azul and capped off a truly memorable individual performance for Sepúlveda.
Statistical analysis of the match reveals an interesting dynamic. Despite Atlas holding the lead for significant portions of the game, Cruz Azul dominated possession with 72.1% compared to Atlas’s 27.9%. Cruz Azul also registered a staggering 29 total shot attempts to Atlas’s 10, and had more shots on goal (5 to 4). The visitors also earned significantly more corner kicks, with 11 to Atlas’s 4, underscoring their relentless attacking pressure throughout the match. Both teams received two yellow cards each, reflecting the competitive nature of the game (ESPN, FotMob).
This draw leaves Atlas with 4 points from their first two Liga MX Apertura matches (1 win, 1 draw), while Cruz Azul secures their second point of the season (0 wins, 2 draws). Historically, the head-to-head record between these two clubs is closely contested, with Cruz Azul holding a slight edge with 13 wins to Atlas’s 11, alongside 10 draws. Notably, Atlas has remained unbeaten against Cruz Azul in their last five meetings, securing two wins and three draws (FotMob).
The six-goal thriller at Estadio Jalisco serves as an early highlight in the Liga MX Apertura, showcasing the unpredictable and exciting nature of Mexican football. Both teams will now look to build on this performance, with Atlas aiming to convert leads into wins and Cruz Azul seeking their first victory of the campaign.
