Necaxa Stun Atlante 2-1 with Last-Gasp Pedroza Winner

Necaxa broke Atlante FC hearts with a 93rd-minute Mauro Pedroza winner to snatch a 2-1 victory in their Liga MX Apertura opener – a match that swung violently in the final ten minutes after Eduardo Pizzuto had given the visitors a first-half lead.

Atlante’s Early Control Punished by Pizzuto

The visitors dominated early exchanges, their midfield trio of Pizzuto and Luis Calzadilla pulling strings while Necaxa left-back Ruben Martinez earned a 42nd-minute yellow for a desperate lunge. The breakthrough came two minutes into first-half stoppage time – Calzadilla’s whipped cross finding Pizzuto unmarked to thump a header past Necaxa’s rooted keeper.

Necaxa’s Second-Half Resurgence

Necaxa emerged transformed after half-time, with coach Jaime Lozano throwing on attacking subs Cristian Vargas and Alexis Oliveros. The pressure told in the 80th minute when Juan Carranza calmly converted a penalty after Atlante’s Walfre Portales was booked for a clumsy challenge. The Estadio Victoria erupted – but the best was yet to come.

Pedroza’s Last-Gasp Heroics

Just as Atlante seemed set to escape with a point, substitute Pedroza – on the pitch just nine minutes – controlled Carranza’s flick-on before unleashing a vicious 16-yard strike that sparked bedlam in the stands. The hosts had stolen it at the death, leaving Atlante’s players slumped on the turf.

What This Means Moving Forward

For Necaxa, this smash-and-grab win provides perfect momentum ahead of facing Tigres next week. But Atlante manager Rafael Garcia faces tough questions after his side conceded twice in the final 13 minutes following Pizzuto’s premature substitution. The visitors host Mazatlán needing to rediscover their first-half assurance.