Toluca closed within two points of the top of Mexican Clausura season standings with a 2-1 home win over Leon on Sunday.
Leader Cruz Azul was held to a 2-2 home draw by Pachuca on Saturday, while Santos Laguna moved into third – nine points behind the leader – after its 4-3 home win over Atlante on Sunday.
In other games this weekend, Pumas UNAM drew 1-1 at Veracruz, America won 1-0 at Puebla, Tijuana drew 1-1 against Tigres UANL, Queretaro had a 1-0 home win over Atlas, Guadalajara drew 1-1 at home against Morelia 1-1 and Chiapas home game against Monterrey finished 1-1.
Leon’s Ivan Pineda scrambled the ball in to give the visitors the lead in the 19th minute, but a deflected shot from Gabriel Velasco brought Toluca level four minutes before halftime, with Oscar Rojas netting the winner in the 56th.
Cruz Azul’s Christian Gimenez and Michael Farfan both scored in the last six minutes after Ecuadorian international Enner Valencia had put Pachuca in the lead with goals in the 57th and 62nd.
Santos Laguna’s Darwin Quintero scored a hat trick in the win over Atlante, with Jose Abella getting the team’s other. Angel Sepulveda netted for Atlante to make the score 2-1, with Guillermo Madrigal scoring two late goals.
Pumas’ Jose Van Rankin equalized in the 51st, after Alfredo Moreno had opened the scoring for Veracruz in the 21st.
America’s Miguel Layun scored in the 2nd with a low shot from outside the penalty and that held up as the winner at Puebla.
Tijuana’s Richard Ruiz leveled the scores five minutes from the end, with his team down to 10 players following Jaimen Ayovi’s red card in the 78th. Former Mexico international Carlos Salcido had given Tigres the lead in the 8th.
Queretaro’s win over Atlas came via Brazilian Camilo Sanvezzo’s goal in the 70th.
Morelia went ahead against Guadalajara through Jorge Zarate in the 2nd, with Gerardo Rodriguez heading in for Chivas in the 54th.
Chiapas’ Javier Munoz scored in the 76th to salvage a point for the hosts after Neri Cardozo had handed Monterrey the lead in the 13th.
by Associate Press
