Morelia, Michoacán - Atlético Morelia bounced back to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph over bottom-placed Alebrijes de Oaxaca during the fifth round of the Clausura 2025 Liga de Expansión MX.
The match, held on February 8, 2025, at the Estadio Morelos, started with a disappointing early setback for the home team. Just two minutes in, Brayton Vázquez fouled Orlando Ballesteros inside the box, leading to a penalty. Ballesteros converted the penalty with precision, putting the visitors up 1-0, which left the home crowd visibly frustrated.
Despite the initial frustration, Atlético Morelia steadily began to push back against the unyielding Alebrijes. Organizing their attacks effectively, they finally found the equalizer at the 30-minute mark when Brayton Vázquez redeemed himself. Capitalizing on a corner kick, he outmaneuvered his marker and fired home, marking the score at 1-1, igniting cheers among the approximately 6,364 fans present.
After the halftime break, Morelia was determined to claim all three points. The pressure paid off when Laerte Polydoro, who was recently substituted on, headed the ball home after taking advantage of a rebound from the Alebrijes goalkeeper, José Fernández, making it 2-1. The goal, scored at the 75-minute mark, saw elated Morelia supporters celebrating heavily, having endured the previous losing streak.
This victory marked Atlético Morelia’s second win of the season, bringing their point total to 6 and propelling them up to ninth place on the league table. Coach Nacho Castro's strategy, which included tactical formations like 4-5-1, was pivotal to the triumph, as he adapted effectively to Alebrijes' 5-3-2 strategy.
For Alebrijes, the defeat extended their winless streak to five games, leaving them rooted at the bottom of the table without any points. The team continues to seek their first victory and will face league leaders Atlante in their next match.
Reflecting on the match, fans and analysts noted the resilience displayed by Morelia after their earlier three-game losing streak. The team hopes to maintain their momentum as they prepare for their upcoming fixture against Dorados de Sinaloa, scheduled for February 15, 2025.
With this hard-fought victory, Atlético Morelia has finally found some footing this season, ending their disappointing run and showcasing their potential to climb higher up the league standings as more matches approach.