San Luis close in on knockout phase
Reuters - Monday 01 November 2010, 01:35
MEXICO CITY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - San Luis upset Toluca 2-1
away on Sunday to enhance their chances of a place in the
Mexican championship's eight-team playoffs while putting the
title holders in danger of not making the cut.
Ecuadorean midfielder Michael Arroyo scored both San Luis
goals before Brazilian-born former Mexico midfielder Zinha
pulled one back.
San Luis lead Group Two with 25 points, one more than
America, who crushed Estudiantes UAG 4-1 at the Azteca in the
capital with two goals from striker Daniel Marquez.
Toluca are third three points behind America, while
CONCACAF Champions League winners Pachuca, who will play in the
Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December, are fourth with 19
points and in danger of not reaching the play-offs.
The two teams that finish top of the three groups plus the
next two best-placed teams overall at the end of the 17-match
round-robin phase qualify for the knockout rounds. There are
two matches to go.
Guadalajara, who only three months ago reached South
America's Libertadores Cup final, virtually lost all chance of
a place in the last eight with a 1-1 draw away to Santos Laguna
on Saturday.
The Chivas are fourth in Group One with 18 points, 14
adrift of leaders Monterrey, who won 2-0 away to Morelia to
secure their place in the last eight, and eight behind Santos.
Ecuadorean striker Cristian Benitez, who opened the scoring
for Santos three minutes from time, is the championship's
leading marksman with 13 goals.
Omar Arellano earned a point for the visiting Chivas when
he equalised two minutes later.
Group Three leaders Cruz, whose 35 points put them top of
the overall standings and who had already clinched a place in
the play-offs, beat Puebla 1-0 at home with a goal by Argentine
midfielder Christian Gimenez.
Jaguares of Chiapas are second in the group with 21 points
after a 0-0 draw with Tigres UANL.