Cruz Azul on course for Clausura quarters
Reuters - Thursday 14 April 2011, 04:53
MEXICO CITY - Christian
Gimenez and Emanuel Villa scored the goals as Cruz Azul beat
champions Monterrey 3-0 to maintain their hopes of reaching the
Mexican Clausura championship knockout phase on Wednesday.
Midfielder Gimenez put Cruz Azul ahead in the first half at
the Azul stadium, putting away midfielder Hugo Droguett's cross
from the left.
Argentine Gimenez scored again with a shot from outside the
box and compatriot Villa also got on the scoresheet with a
header from a corner as Cruz Azul scored twice in quick
succession midway through the second half.
Cruz Azul are third in Group Three with 24 points from 14
matches and still on course to go through at least as one of the
two best third-placed teams.
The top two teams in each of the three groups plus the next
two best-placed teams in the overall standings after the
17-match round-robin phase qualify for the quarter-finals.
The victory was sweet revenge for Cruz Azul after they lost
to Monterrey in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Champions League
last week.
Pumas UNAM lead Group Three with 29 points after a 0-0 draw
away to Atlas. Morelia are second with 27 having beaten bottom
team Chiapas 2-1 on Tuesday.
Tigres UANL lead Group One with 26 points after beating
Pachuca 4-2 with two goals from Chilean striker Hector Mancilla.
Guadalajara are second with 24 after a 2-1 win at Toluca and
Monterrey third on 21.
Santos Laguna, runners up to Monterrey in the Apertura
championship in the first half of the season, crushed Puebla 4-0
as they continue their recovery from a dismal start to the
Clausura including a change of coach.
With Argentine Diego Cocca at the helm they climbed to
fourth in Group One with 17 points.
Atlante opened a three-point lead over America in Group Two
with a 4-1 away win over Queretaro. Atlante have 22 points and
America 19 in a tight group in which there are only six points
between the leaders and bottom team Pachuca.