LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored the only goal as Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen took a 1-0 victory against Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro to earn it second victory of the 2017 Florida Cup on Wednesday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Chicharito’s second-half finish highlighted a dominant performance by Bayer, who controlled much of the possession and attacking chances.

The first good chance almost fell to Chicharito in the 18th minute when the Mexican international flicked a good header wide to Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turk’s low, driven cross from the left found the feet of Chicharito as he sent the ball back in, but the El Tri striker was crowded out by a pair of Atletico defenders before he could get a shot away 12 yards out.

Bayer continued to hold the upper hand, in particular looking to attack down the flanks with Karim Bellarabi. His clever pass from the left side a few minutes after Chicharito’s chance created a chance for Benjamin Henrichs to drive into the penalty area, but the finish found the side netting wide of the near post.

Bellarabi played a telling pass again in the 31st minute when he slipped Calhanoglu into the right side of the penalty area, but Atletico goalkeeper Uilson Pedruzzi made a good initial save on the tight-angle shot initially, and then turned away Wendell on the rebound before his defense cleared. Calhanoglu had one final chance in stoppage time from a free kick 25 yards from goal, but his curling effort rang off the right post and away to safety.

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Bayer finally broke through seven minutes into the second half when Chicharito struck with a near-post header off a cross from the right by Henrichs that left Pedruzzi with no chance from close range. Omer Toprak also went close with a header five minutes later off a corner by Calhanoglu as Leverkusen looked to extend its lead, only to have it saved.

The opening hour brought little joy for Atletico’s attack as chances for strikers Carlos Alberto or Elder Santana to attack Bayer’s defense were few and far between. Bayer’s defense, led by Toprak and Tin Jedvaj, proved regularly a step quicker to the ball, and snuffed out attacks before they could fully form.

Chicharito forced another save with 19 minutes to go as his low shot was parried to safety by Pedruzzi as Bayer continued to control the game’s flow. Atletico then created an opening as Joao Victor danced past a defender on the right and delivered a teasing cross, but Santana was outmuscled by Toprak at the top of the six-yard area and cleared.

That would prove the only major chance the Brazilians found late on, however, as Bayer was rarely troubled and saw out the victory.

UPCOMING GAMES

January 14 – Atletico Mineiro vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 4 p.m. ET, Al Lang Field, St.Petersburg, Fla.