Champions Monterrey finally bag first win
MEXICO CITY - Title holders Monterrey ended their poor start to the Mexican Clausura championship with a 1-0 win over Atlante on Saturday while favourites Cruz Azul shared the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Pumas UNAM.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VwUUBV5ENs57jtUd5K8XUf.jpg)
Atlas, who finished bottom of the standings in the Apertura championship won by Monterrey in December, continued their fine start with a third victory, 1-0 away to promoted Necaxa on Friday.
Shaven-headed Chile striker Humberto "Lollipop" Suazo scored after two minutes to hand Monterrey their first points after two defeats with Mario Ortiz missing a 53rd-minute penalty and the chance to salvage a draw for Atlante.
Cruz Azul, favourites to win the Apertura championship in December before their shock quarter-final elimination by Pumas, took a 2-0 half-time lead at their Azul ground in the capital.
Argentine striker Emanuel Villa opened the scoring and right-back Horacio Cervantes made it two with a shot from outside the box which took a deflection on defender Marco Antonio Palacios.
Pumas hit back with three goals in 20 minutes, two from forward Juan Cacho either side of veteran Paraguayan defender Dario Veron's headed equaliser from Brazilian-born Mexican Leandro Augusto's cross.
Chilean midfielder Hugo Droguett salvaged a point for Cruz Azul, whose tally is four from three matches, when he pulled them level eight minutes from time with a left-footed shot after a one-two with substitute Cesar Villaluz.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack