Atlas - Atl. San Luis: How a late comeback reshaped Atlas’ tournament trajectory and attack

What matters first is who felt the shift: Atlas’ squad and its attack, relieved and rearranged after the win in the atlas - atl. san luis match. The 3-2 comeback not only preserved the club’s unbeaten run in the current tournament but thrust a new goalscorer into the spotlight—Agustín Rodríguez—while VAR decisions and a long-awaited return in midfield altered immediate selection choices.

Impact on squad identity and the striker problem

Atlas left the stadium with three points that affect more than the table: the victory eases pressure created by the departure of Djuka to Rayados and gives urgency to a new striking plan. The debut goal from Agustín Rodríguez positions him as a candidate for the number 9 role the club needed to fill, and the team now has fresh options before upcoming fixtures. Here's the part that matters: an emergency signing scored on debut and a long-term injured midfielder returned to the starting XI, shifting selection questions for the coach.

Atlas - Atl. San Luis: key moments that turned the match

The match unfolded with clear momentum swings and several VAR interventions that directly produced goals. Highlights and sequence (compact timeline):

• Minute 3 — Joao Pedro put Atlético de San Luis ahead with a turn-and-finish.
• Minute 41 — Eduardo Águila extended the visitors' lead to make it 0-2.
• Added time, first half — after a VAR review that overturned a disallowed Rodrigo Schlegel goal because of a prior foul on Alfonso González, a penalty was awarded; Diego González converted from the spot to make it 1-2 before halftime.
• Second half — VAR again led to a penalty following a hand by a defender; Eduardo Aguirre took the spot kick to level the score at 2-2.
• Minute 83 — Agustín Rodríguez, on for Eduardo Aguirre, headed in a deflected attempt from Rodrigo Schlegel to complete the 3-2 comeback.

Player notes: debuts, returns and substitutions

Agustín Rodríguez arrived from Juventud de Las Piedras as an emergency reinforcement after Djuka’s exit to Rayados. Making his Mexico debut on Saturday, he entered the match at the 70' mark in place of Eduardo Aguirre and needed 13 minutes to score his first goal in the country. The goal came from a header after a Schlegel attempt was redirected inside the area.

Also notable was the return of "Gary" Zaldívar to the starting lineup after 457 days out with a ruptured ligament. He partnered with Aldo Rocha in midfield and showed glimpses of his pre-injury level as Atlas mounted the comeback.

What’s easy to miss is how decisive VAR was not only in awarding penalties but also in overturning the initial offside call on Schlegel’s play—an intervention that directly led to the first penalty and the psychological turning point before halftime.

Immediate schedule and situational context

Atlas claimed the 3-2 win on matchday 7 and maintained an unbeaten record in the current tournament. The team will travel to FC Juárez next Friday to play at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez, a ground where Atlas traditionally has good results, and then return home to face Puebla on Saturday at the Estadio Libertad Financiera. These upcoming fixtures now arrive with a reshuffled attacking picture and a recovered midfield option.

• Unbeaten status preserved in the current tournament after a 3-2 comeback.
• Agustín Rodríguez: debut in Mexico, subbed on at 70', scored 13 minutes later; came from Juventud de Las Piedras.
• Djuka moved to Rayados, prompting Rodríguez’s emergency arrival.
• Two VAR-awarded penalties directly influenced the scoreline; one overturned an offside decision after a prior foul on Alfonso González.
• Gary Zaldívar returned to the starting XI after 457 days out with a ligament rupture, partnering Aldo Rocha.

The real question now is how the coach will balance the sudden promise from Rodríguez with the rest of the roster across back-to-back fixtures. Recent events leave clear signals to monitor: whether Rodríguez keeps his spot, how Zaldívar’s minutes are managed after a long layoff, and whether the team’s reliance on VAR moments becomes a tactical talking point.

All details above are drawn from the match coverage provided; any additional specifics not present in that coverage are unclear in the provided context.