Monterrey topple Guadalajara to go top
MEXICO CITY - Mexican champions Monterrey moved into the overall top spot in the Clausura standings with a 2-1 victory over Guadalajara on Saturday.
Monterrey, who have 26 points from 11 matches, hold a six-point lead in Group Two over Morelia, who were upset 1-0 at home by lowly Atlante. Morelia's Mexico striker Miguel Sabah missed a fourth-minute penalty.
Guadalajara have taken only one point since their record start of eight successive wins but lead Group One by nine points from Atlas, upset 1-0 at home by Estudiantes UAG.
Santos Laguna lead Group Three by a single point from Cruz Azul, who continued their recovery from a dismal start to the championship with a 4-0 rout of Tigres UANL.
The top two teams in each group plus the two next best placed sides in the overall table qualify for the knockout phase.
Paraguay's Osvaldo Martinez put in-form Monterrey ahead with a penalty three minutes into the second half at Guadalajara's Tecnologico stadium.
Striker Jesus Zavala increased their lead in the 62nd with a shot into the top corner from a pass by Martinez.
Mexico striker Javier Hernandez pulled one back three minutes later with a bicycle kick from a corner, taking his tally as the championship's top scorer to nine.
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Cruz Azul, runners-up to Monterrey in the Apertura championship in the first half of the season, extended their unbeaten run to six matches.
Their Argentine striker Emanuel Villa, top marksman of the Apertura, scored one of the goals taking his tally to five.
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