Maradona’s Dorados looking to jumpstart offense in Mexican soccer playoffs

Mexican second-division side Dorados de Sinaloa, coached by Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, will look to rediscover its offense when it takes on Mineros de Zacatecas this weekend in the second leg of the teams’ quarter-final playoff clash in the Apertura championship.

After the clubs played to a scoreless draw on Wednesday at Banorte Stadium in Culiacan, the seventh-seeded Dorados are badly in need of a goal because if the teams are tied on aggregate after two legs the second-seeded Mineros will advance to the semi-finals by virtue of being the higher seed.

Mineros, however, also likely will be looking to rev up an offense that was potent during the regular season (27 goals in 14 games) but mostly silent on Wednesday.

Panama’s Roberto Nurse, tied for first in the second-division’s Apertura with eight goals, and Mexican Guillermo Martinez, tied for second with seven goals, will be counted on to get Mineros’ attack going on Saturday afternoon at Carlos Vega Villalba Stadium in Zacatecas.

Argentine Jorge Cordoba, who was suspended for the last match, will return for the Dorados and team up in attack with Ecuadorian Vinicio Angulo, who scored seven goals during the regular season.

Maradona, who is facing a potential touchline ban for berating referees in recent games, took over the crisis-ridden Dorados in mid-September and led them to a 6-1-1 record over the final eight games of the regular season (and a playoff berth).

But all could be for naught if his team loses or draws on Saturday night.

The other three quarter-final series also kicked off with first-leg draws.

Juarez and U. de G. played to a 1-1 tie, Atlante and Oaxaca drew 1-1 and Sonora and Atletico San Luis tied 0-0.