MEXICO CITY (AP) — With goals from Jesús Gallardo and Jordi Cortizo, Monterrey rallied to beat Pachuca 2-1 on Sunday night and extended their lead in the Clausura tournament in Mexico.
Colombian Marino Hinestroza put the Tuzos in front after three minutes, but Gallardo leveled the game in the 17th minute and Cortizo scored the winner in the 53rd minute.
The Rayados won their ninth game in the championship and reached 28 points to separate seven units from their closest pursuer with five dates remaining in the local tournament.
Defending champions Tuzos lost for the third time in their last four games and slipped to sixth place.
THE RED DEVILS, THEY ARE SECONDARY
Carlos González, Édgar López, Maximiliano Araujo and Camilo Sanvezzo scored the goals with which Toluca crushed bottom side Mazatlán 4-1 to move into second place.
Paraguayan González opened the scoring at 25, López followed at 45, Uruguayan Araujo extended the lead to 48 and Brazilian Sanvezzo signed fourth at 83.
The Red Devils, who had just been stunned by Querétaro last week, have won five of their last six games.
Thanks to this good step, the team led by Ambriz accumulated 21 points and, due to goal difference, moved Tigres from second place.
Mazatlán, which played with 10 from 45 due to the sending off of Colombian midfielder Nicolás Benedetti, remains with four units and bottom of the table.
SANTOS CONTINUES THE FIGHT Argentina’s Javier Correa scored twice and Santos beat Tijuana 3-2 to move into the top eight.
Correa scored at 45 and 52 minutes, while Brazilian Mateus Doria sealed the Guerreros tally at 74.
Santos, who has won two of his last three games, now has 15 points to move into eighth place.
The Xolos, led by Miguel Herrera, accumulate 11 units and are 13th.
THE BRAVE DON’T GIVE UP
Argentina’s Tomás Molina scored a second-half goal as Ciudad Juárez drew 1-1 at home to Necaxa.
Spaniard Edgar Méndez put the Rays ahead at 52 minutes, but Molina tied the game at 68.
With the result, the Braves have 12 units and sit in 11th place with playoff aspiration after the first 12 dates.
In Mexico, the top four teams advance directly to the league and the remaining eight play a single game to complete the quarter-finals.
The Rayos accumulate nine units and are 15th, with the hope of going to the playoffs.