Colombian star James Rodríguez made an instant impact in his first match in Mexican football, earning a crucial penalty that helped León secure a 2-1 win over Atlas in the Clausura tournament.

James' Instant Impact

James entered the game in the 64th minute, replacing Argentine Emiliano Rigoni, and wasted no time making his presence felt. In the 78th minute, he got into the box and was brought down by fellow Colombian, goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, resulting in a penalty. Adonis Frías stepped up and calmly converted to level the score.

After a relatively quiet first half, Atlas broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute with a stunning long-range goal by Eduardo Aguirre. However, James’ introduction shifted the momentum, with León stepping up their offensive game.

Late in the match, the visitors pushed hard for the win. Carlos Cisneros missed a golden opportunity following a pinpoint pass from James in the 87th minute, and goalkeeper Vargas made a crucial save against Sebastián Santos in the 92nd. Finally, in the 95th minute, León sealed the victory. A shot by Venezuelan Jhonder Cádiz deflected off Víctor Frías, resulting in an own goal.

León Climbing the Ranks

With this win, León moves up to sixth place with three points, kicking off the Clausura tournament on a strong note. Meanwhile, the Tigres sit at the top of the table with six points after a 2-1 victory over Mazatlán on Friday. James’ debut hints at an exciting chapter ahead for the Colombian in Liga MX.