Toluca clinch Liguilla Apertura slot

"Red Devils" lock up playoff spot with win in 1,000th First Division game

Carlos Esquivel scored the first of two Toluca goals against Queretaro. (AP)

Queretaro endured bravely for 60 minutes but Carlos Esquivel opened the scoring (65') shortly following the ejection from Omar Jair Maldonado (59'), after a couple of yellow cards.

The second goal of the afternoon was made by Mexican-Brazilian Antonio Naelson "Sinha" (80') and gave the final numbers to the game. Chilean Hector Mancilla (nine goals on the season) failed a penalty kick (58') and could not get closer to the top scorer of Apertura 2009, Emanuel Villa (13 goals).

Cruz Azul is thinking about Liguilla too. "Blue Machine" won 3-1 over Atlante at Mexico City. Argentinean Emanuel Villa netted a couple of goals (35', penalty kick and 65') and Paraguayan Christian Riveros (41') put the ball into the Atlante net and gave three important points to Enrique Meza and his pupils. Rafael Marquez Lugo made the only goal for Cancun's team (45').

Monterrey recovered the wining road after three consecutive defeats and won 2-0 over San Luis at Alfonso Lastras Stadium. Victor Manuel Vucetich, Rayados' coach, finally could smile thanks to goals from Aldo De Nigris (49') and Chilean Humberto Suazo (52' and 92'). In the other side, the "Gladiators" suffered a second loss in a row for their new coach, Miguel Angel Lopez, who is mulling what he can do to recover the soul of his apprentices.

Morelia came back from a 1-0 deficit and defeated Chivas 3-1 at Morelos Stadium, leaving them still as the vice speakers of the league. Javier Hernandez made the first goal of the game (35') by a penalty kick.

The Monarcas reacted violently with three excellent goals. Colombians Aldo Leao Ramirez (52') and Luis Gabriel Rey (58') turned the score and Mexican Elias Hernandez (67') put the last nail in the coffin of Guadalajara.

Raul Arias, Chivas' manager, summed his third defeat in a row and his future is now in the air despite only taking charge earlier this season, because Guadalajara FC owner Jorge Vergara usually does not have patience for his coaches.

Puebla took advantage of the awful style of game from Indios and won 2-0 at Ciudad Juarez. Very early in the game, Luis Miguel Noriega (3') scored the first for La Franja. Later, exactly at the first half of the match, "Indians" goalkeeper Cesar Lozano made a terrible mistake when he tried to stop a shot from Noriega, who shot from long distance. "Chicharo" Lozano failed and gave the second goal of the night to Puebla (30').

In the last game in history of Corona Stadium, Santos Laguna and Pumas tied 1-1. After 27 years of tradition, Corona Stadium will be demolished and the team will be beginning a new era at Territorio Santos Modelo, the new and modern house of the "Warriors." Pablo Barrera, from Pumas (10') and Vicente Matias Vuoso, from Santos (66') will be remembered as the last scorers at Corona Stadium at Torreon, Coahuila.

In other results, America tied Chiapas 1-1, Tigres and Estudiantes finished tied at 2-2 and Atlas ended 1-1 versus Pachuca.

Abel Reyes Díaz is a contributor to GlobalSoccerCenter.com.