Diego Maradona’s attempt to lift the 2018 Ascenso MX Apertura title with Dorados fell agonizingly short on Sunday night after Atlético San Luis triumphed 4-3 on aggregate after extra time.
Dorados won the first leg 1-0 back on Nov. 29, but Maradona was ultimately sent off during the game for threatening San Luis manager Alfonso Sosa with a clenched fist.
Diego Maradona walks off in style after being sent off in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/1RvvxnwaIP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 30, 2018
So Maradona was forced to sit in the stands for the return leg with a walkie talkie. As has been the case all along in Mexico, the 58-year-old Argentine was strictly business.
Here he is slamming a beer during the match, because, as CNN wrote in a puff piece before the final, “Maradona has masterminded a remarkable change in fortunes for Dorados.”
Yes, what a managerial mastermind this guy is.
Diego Maradona with one of the greatest post-match interviews ever. pic.twitter.com/GjwjdyTXOq
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2018
The match itself was pretty spectacular. Jorge Cordoba gave Dorados a 2-0 aggregate lead in the 32nd minute, but San Luis’ Nicolas Ibanez cut the deficit to one just before halftime.
Edson Rivera made it 3-1 to Dorados in the 56th, but a furious fightback from San Luis saw the scores level by the 75th minute. The final required extra time, and Leandro Torres’ goal in the 103rd minute ultimately gave the title to San Luis.
: Atlético San Luis se recuperó de una doble desventaja de dos goles en el marcador global para ganar en tiempo extra por 4 a 2, en el partido de vuelta de la final del torneo apertura 2018 del Ascenso Mx. El gol del título potosino fue marcado por Leandro Torres. pic.twitter.com/4rtkABHAtB
— José Juan Vázquez (@josejuangel1) December 3, 2018
After the match, Maradona returned to the spotlight when leaving Estadio Alfonso Lastras. He was confronted by Atlético San Luis supporters chanting derogatory things at him, and he responded by throwing a few punches.
¡Lamentable! Al salir del palco del Estadio Alfonso Lastras, #Maradona no soportó los cánticos en su contra e intentó agredir a los aficionados del @AtletideSanLuis pic.twitter.com/Qi6DdJRRjj
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 3, 2018
Maradona ya aprendió bien el “mexicano”.
Mientras mienta madres pide que lo suelten para ir a golpear a alguien. pic.twitter.com/d4vbesooY6— mauricio pedroza (@mauriciopedroza) December 3, 2018
As we previously said, you can doubt Maradona’s methods in Mexico — including drinking beer during the final, answering his phone while appearing to nap during the quarterfinals, sucking down Red Bulls to fight said sleepiness, mumbling and slurring his way through the semifinal post-match interview and taking time to trash Lionel Messi, but you can’t argue with a final record of nine wins, three losses and two draws across all competitions.
Will Maradona return for the Clausura tournament? We have no idea, but we sure hope so.