CANCUN, Mexico – Roen Nelson scored his second goal of the CONCACAF Champions League™ in the 57th minute and Joe Public FC stunned Mexico’s Atlante FC 1:0 Thursday to restore its hopes in the continental competition.
The victory gave Joe Public three points and moved it into a tie for third with CD Olimpia in Group C as the phase of the competition reached its midpoint. Montreal leads the group with seven points, three more than Atlante, which last week was held to a 0:0 draw by the Impact.
Joe Public, coming off a penalty kick loss to W Connection in the Trinidad & Tobago First Citizen’s Cup final six days earlier, appeared content to absorb pressure and counterattack, largely limiting the Mexican side to chances from distance.
Nelson, who last scored in a 4:0 victory over the New England Revolution in the Preliminary Round, converted on one of Joe Public’s few chances. A free kick was headed into the path of Nelson, who escaped his marker, Giancarlos Maldonado, and found himself alone on the left side of the penalty area.
Nelson calmly struck a right-footed volley from 12 yards that left goalkeeper Frederico Vilar with no chance.
The loss snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for Atlante and eight without a loss at home.
The goal seemed to spark Atlante, resulting in several good chances, most notably by Maldonado.
He shot high in the 59th while unmarked at the right post and then forced Joe Public goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa into a reaction save in the 62nd.
Both teams finished the game with 10 men when Jose Carevic of Atlante was ejected for a foul in the third minute of injury time and Joe Public's Gregory Richardson followed with a red card for dissent.
Joe Public will play its next two games at home, on Wednesday against Montreal and on 21 October against Atlante.
Two of Atlante’s remaining three games are away from home, starting next week when it travels to Honduras on Wednesday to face Olimpia and followed by the return leg against Joe Public.
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