When Diego Maradona first took over Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico’s second-tier league the move was seen as more of a publicity stunt than anything. The team from Culiacan was sitting in 13th place with only three points in a 15-team league with just two goals scored and it did not seem like anybody could help out the club.

Since then, Dorados has scored seven goals under the leadership of Diego Maradona and has won three of four games played in the Ascenso MX. El Gran Pez defeated Zacatepec 1-0 away from home in its most recent game and is now sitting in eighth place with 12 points.

Maradona has taken Los Sinaloenses from being bottom dwellers to being in a playoff position after being in charge for just over a month. Dorados has scored more than triple the amount of goals it had scored in seven games to begin the season in just four games with the Argentine icon.

The defense along with goalkeeper Gaspar Servio has also been very impressive with two clean sheets and just two goals allowed. Sinaloa’s No. 10 on the field, Vinicio Angulo has been on fire with four goals scored since Maradona’s appointment including a hattrick in Week 8. This after scoring just one goal in his previous 18 league games with Dorados dating back to last season before the arrival of the Napoli legend.

Ten men ✅

Two goals in injury time ✅ Maradona is enjoying life at Dorados after a 2-0 win yesterday 🕺 [🎥 IG: auribem03] pic.twitter.com/XWxYJQUyii — COPA90 (@COPA90) October 1, 2018



Maradona’s assistant coaches, Luis Islas and Mario Garcia also deserve a lot of credit as both help out a lot with the tactical side of the game. But there is no denying that “El Diez” has also made a positive impact on the team and has inspired these Dorados’ players to be better in each game.

There are just four games remaining in the Ascenso MX regular season and Dorados has two games left against top eight teams and two games against teams outside of the top eight. The team from Culiacan has a very good chance at making the playoffs and should be a dangerous side with its current run of form.