Toluca blow 4-0 lead to draw with Estudiantes
Reuters - Monday 25 April 2011, 00:54
MEXICO CITY - Toluca squandered
two potentially critical points in a 4-4 draw with
Estudiantes UAG on Sunday in the race to reach the last eight of
the Mexican Clausura championship.
In a match of two halves, two-goal Emmanuel Cerda helped
2009-10 Clausura champions Toluca race into a 4-0 lead at the
interval as they eyed climbing into the top two qualifying
berths in a very tight Group Two.
However, the visitors from Guadalajara city hit back with
striker Eduardo Lillingston scoring twice to pull off a
remarkable draw that does little for their virtually lost cause
but seriously dents Toluca's with one match to go.
Toluca coach Sergio Lugo was whistled off the pitch by irate
home fans at the end of the match which left his team in fourth
place in the group with 21 points.
The group is led by Atlante, who have 24 points after a 1-1
draw away to America, who are on 23 together with Atlas though
behind them in third place on goal difference.
San Luis, also battling for a qualifying spot from Group Two
in fifth place with 20 points, beat Santos Laguna 3-0 away on
Saturday with a hat-trick from Peruvian winger Wilmer Aguirre.
Group One leaders Tigres UANL won 3-0 at Morelia, second in
Group Three, in a match between two of the three teams that have
already secured a berth in the knockout phase. The other is
Group Three and overall leaders Pumas UNAM.
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 that ends next week qualify for the
last eight.
Cruz Azul are in third place in Group Three with 25 points
but failed to secure their qualification in a 1-1 draw at home
to Guadalajara on Saturday in which they played with 10 men for
50 minutes after defender Horacio Cervantes was sent off.
Argentine striker Emanuel Villa scored Cruz Azul's late
equaliser.
Guadalajara also have 25 points in second place in Group One
with title holders Monterrey third on 23 after a 1-1 draw with
Puebla.