So much for Atlas

Atlas fell by the wayside and were done in by the superior team as Boca Juniors demolished Atlas 3-0 in Guadalajara.

Boca played like a club that has won six Copa Libertadores titles and Atlas played like the zorritos we all know and love, the sad-sack overhyped club that couldn't win a championship if it was handed to them.

Boca Juniors moves on to the semifinals while America holds the Mexican league's last hope in Libertadores. America visits Santos of Brazil on Thursday with a 2-0 aggregate advantage, but we all saw how Atlas handled their advantage so America certainly has won nothing yet.

ADD:

Here are the highlights. Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo and Rodrigo Palacio make for a talented attacking trio. I wonder if Atlas knew this before the game.

Elsewhere around the world

Moscow will have the global spotlight today but Guadalajara will host a pretty big game as well.

Boca Juniors visits Atlas of Guadalajara with a Copa Libertadores semifinal berth in hand. Boca Juniors led 2-1 late in the first leg a week ago in Argentina before Atlas leveled the match with minutes to spare. The goal was valuable as Atlas now needs only a draw to get through (as long as its not 3-3 or more).

Atlas is not part of the Mexican semifinals, which kick off tonight as Cruz Azul visits San Luis, so Atlas has been entirely focused on Libertadores for more than a week now.

Atlas already beat Boca Juniors in Estadio Jalisco, a 3-1 victory for los zorros during the group stage. A victory would be historic for Atlas. Though a club with a lot of history, Atlas doesn't exactly have much hardware to display on its mantle. Atlas has just one league title, won back in the 1950s, and the club has participated in Copa Libertadores once and reached the quarterfinals. Atlas has played better than most expected throughout this entire tournament and nothing but a complete collapse can keep Atlas from reaching the semifinals.

Atlas draws in Argentina

Atlas of Guadalajara tied Boca Juniors 2-2 in the first leg of the clubs' quarterfinal series in the Copa Libertadores.

It was a great show by both sides. Atlas took an early lead but Boca wound up ahead midway through the second half. With a few minutes from time, though, Atlas leveled terms and the match finished even at 2. Atlas will host the second leg next week and has the upper hand with their two road goals.

Here are highlights of the entertaining match:

Ain't just a Chivas town

Chivas may be one of the most popular clubs in Mexico but Guadalajara is also home to Atlas. They've relegated their more popular city rival to the very top of Wednesday's Cancha cover.

Chivas begins its quest for a league-record 12th title today against Monterrey, but Atlas has a match against Boca Juniors in Argentina tonight and trumped Chivas, in terms of coverage in Cancha at least. Atlas got four pages inside Cancha while Chivas got three.

Also in Cancha was a report that Sven Goran Eriksson is being pursued by Benfica of Portugal, and how one Mexican official wants Sven to take over Mexico's vacant coaching post.

Atlas moves on

It wasn't easy but Atlas of Guadalajara moved on to the quarterfinals of Copa Libertadores. After taking the first leg by 1-0 at Lanus of Argentina, Atlas needed just a draw to get through, and that's what los Zorros got as Tuesday's match finished 2-2. Twice Atlas went ahead but twice Lanus responded, the final goal coming in the 90th minute.

Drama ensued as Lanus had several more opportunities in stoppage time but Atlas prevailed. Atlas will await the winner of the Boca Juniors-Cruzeiro series in the quarterfinals.

Perhaps complicating Atlas' Copa task is the domestic campaign. Atlas will play Necaxa in the repechaje round with games scheduled for Thursday and Sunday.

En route to Copa quarters

Atlas of Guadalajara beat Lanus of Argentina 1-0 in the first leg of the clubs' second round Copa Libertadores series. With just a draw at home, Atlas will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Not bad for a club many had given up on at the start of the year.

Bruno Marioni scored the game's only goal, in the 37th minute. It was a nice one too.

Colossal

Against Colo Colo, it was only fitting Colotto got the goal. Diego Colotto scored the goal that helped Atlas through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores as Atlas tied Colo Colo 1-1.

Cancha ran a story yesterday on Atlas' one and only Mexican league title, way back in the 1950s. Few expected much of Atlas this year but the club booked a passage to the second round, a feat city rivals Chivas failed to do. Atlas, though, needs some help to get into the Mexican league playoffs.