MEXICO CITY — América and Tigres beat Necaxa and Pumas, respectively, on Saturday to remain the only two undefeated in the Clausura tournament in Mexico.
Thanks to goals from Chilean midfielder Diego Valdés and striker Henry Martín, América won 2-1 against Rayos.
Valdés struck in the 22nd minute and Martín converted a penalty in the 51st for the Águilas, who have won for the second time in their last three games.
Martín, Mexican player for the World Cup in Qatar 2022, has seven scores, with which he remains the tournament’s top scorer after six dates.
America has 10 points, which places it provisionally in fourth position, pending a match for the sixth date.
Uruguayan Maximiliano Silvera scored in the 80th minute for Rayos, who lost for the second time in their last three games.
Necaxa, led by Argentine coach Andrés Lillini, has four units and sits 15th out of 18 top teams.
WIN WITHOUT COCCA
With a few goals from French striker André-Pierre Gignac, the Tigres started their stage after their Argentinian coach Diego Cocca unexpectedly left on the right foot and beat the Pumas 4-2.
Argentinian Nicolás Ibáñez shook the net at 12 minutes, Ricardo Galindo committed an own goal at 24 and Gignac converted a penalty at 44, in addition to scoring at 89.
Gignac has reached five goals and ranks second among scorers behind Martín.
Cocca quit the team on Thursday to take over as national team manager. Marco Antonio Ruiz took over as coach.
Tigres have 14 points and are in second place, only passed by Monterrey, who have one more point.
Argentines Gustavo del Prete at minute 16 and Juan Dinenno at minute 65 scored the goals for the university students, who, led by Rafael Puente, saw a three-game unbeaten streak broken and remain with eight points, in the ninth place.
THEY LOOK BRAVE AT THE BORDER
Uruguayan Gabriel Fernández netted a brace and Ciudad Juárez secured their second straight victory beating Santos 3-1
Fernández scored his goals at 50 and 62 minutes, while Tomás Molina sealed the score at 82.
The Braves now have nine points and are fifth in the standings.
Colombian Harold Preciado scored in the 81st minute for Guerreros, who saw their four-game losing streak snapped.
Santos remains with eight units and has slipped to eighth in the table.
DRAG THE CHAMPION
Thanks to a second-half striker Roberto de la Rosa’s goal, the Pachuca champions narrowly drew 1-1 against Chivas and relinquished the Mexican tournament lead.
Víctor Guzmán put Guadalajara ahead with a goal after 27 minutes and de la Rosa equalized at 55.
With the result, the Tuzos have 13 points and have slipped from first place to third behind Monterrey and Tigres.
Chivas equalized for the second game in a row and have nine points to move into sixth position.