News Sports Soccer Santos Holds Onto Top Spot In Mexico

Santos Holds Onto Top Spot In Mexico

Mexico City, Apr 2  : A late headed goal from Angel Reyna gave Monterrey a 3-2 victory over America on Sunday, but Santos Laguna remained in first place in Mexico's first division after defeating Toluca

santos holds onto top spot in mexico santos holds onto top spot in mexico
Mexico City, Apr 2  : A late headed goal from Angel Reyna gave Monterrey a 3-2 victory over America on Sunday, but Santos Laguna remained in first place in Mexico's first division after defeating Toluca 3-1.

Santos Laguna moved to 29 points and was one point clear of defending champion Tigres, which had 4-1 win against Morelia. Morelia remained on 26 points and Monterrey was in fourth spot on 25 points with four rounds remaining.

In other weekend matches, Estudiantes defeated Chivas 1-0, Pachuca defeated Tijuana 1-0, Cruz Azul had a 3-1 win over San Luis, Queretaro lost 1-0 to Puebla, Atlante and Jaguares drew 2-2 and Atlas drew 0-0 with Pumas.

Ecuadorian Christian Benitez twice gave America the lead against Monterrey, scoring in the 18th minute and again in the 57th after Hamerto Suazo had equalized with a header just before half time.

Substitute Abraham Carreno made it 2-2 in the 85th before Reyna, who used to play for America and left under acrimonious circumstances, scored the winner four minutes into injury time.

Also Sunday, first half goals from Oribe Peralta and Christian Suarez gave Santos Laguna a 2-0 lead, and Darwin Quintero added the third three minutes after halftime. Diego de la Torre got one back in the 66th for Toluca, which had Diego Novaretti sent off 10 minutes later.

Tigres broke a 1-1 halftime deadlock against Morelia with three second-half goals via Edno Cunha in the 58th, Lucas Lobos in the 68th and Damian Alvarez in the 74th.

Elsewhere, Chivas' five-match unbeaten streak in the league ended when an attempted clearance from Edgar Mejia went over Chivas' keeper Luis Michel and into the goal five minutes from fulltime.

A single goal from Javier Munoz in the 63rd was enough to give the three points to Pachuca, which has 21 points, one point more than Tijuana.

A 30-yard strike from Argentine Alfredo Moreno gave San Luis a surprise lead in the 15th, but a double before halftime from former Mexico international Omar Bravo put Cruz Azul ahead. Edixon Perea added Cruz Azul's third in the 53rd.

Queretaro remains in last place with Brazilian Lucas Silva getting the only goal of the game for Puebla in the 69th. US international DaMarcus Beasley assisted on the goal.

Atlante twice came from behind against Jaguares. Colombian Luis Gabriel Rey opened the scoring in the 28th before Michael Arroyo of Ecuador got one back in the 59th.

Atlante had Arturo Munoz sent off in the 47th. Edgar Andrade put Jaguares ahead for the second time in the 63th, but Jose Francisco Fonseca equalized for Atlante with nine minutes remaining.

Atlas had the better chances against Pumas, but goalkeeper Alejandro Palacios made of string of saves to keep them scoreless.

Next Sunday, Chivas hosts America in Mexico's most important derby game.