Atlas soccer fans fought with police and trashed concessions stands in the wake of their team’s Liga Mx quarter-final defeat to Monterrey on Sunday.

Fans had filled Guadalajara’s Jalisco Stadium expecting their much improved team to pass comfortably through to the semi finals for the first time 11 seasons.

The disappointing 0-2 loss to Monterrey was the cue for dozens of fans to go on the rampage, and they began to hurl rocks and sticks at municipal police officers as they abandoned the stadium.  

At least 20 officers were injured in the violence, which quickly spread out on to streets surrounding the stadium.   Officers used tear gas to disperse the rioters but only managed to arrest three fans.

More than 200 municipal officers and 450 private security personnel had been deployed to police the high-profile game after violent Atlas fans had marred March’s game with hometown rivals Chivas.   

The disturbances began after the game ended and the crowd began to abandon the stadium, when some irate Atlas fans threatened 350 rival supporters who had traveled from Monterrey to see their team play.  The violent confrontation developed after police decided to shepard the traveling fans back into thestadium for their safety.

Guadalajara municipal police commander Jose Angel Campa later stressed that the police  operation was a “success,” given that his officers were outnumbered by around 500 fans.