Club America return to Liguilla

Victory over Monterrey has Aguilas back in Apertura playoffs

Daniel Montenegro scored the lone goal America needed to top Monterrey. (AP)

The 1-0 victory over Monterrey at Azteca Stadium was manufactured by a solo goal from Argentinean Daniel Montenegro (16'), who gave the Aguilas their ticket to the playoffs at the end of Week 16 of Apertura 2009.

Cruz Azul, the other important club from Mexico City, also got their ticket to Liguilla. The "Blue Machine" massacred Puebla 4-0 with a great performance from Emanuel Villa. The Argentinean forward scored twice (36' and 38') and practically single-handedly gave the three points to manager Enrique Meza.

Puebla tried to avoid more goals but allowed a couple more from Mario Ortiz (44') and Paraguayan Pablo Zeballos (90').

"Tito" Villa (16 goals) is almost the new top scorer in the Mexican League. His nearest persecutors, Hector Mancilla (11) and Javier Hernandez (10) are both likely too far back to catch him, with only one game remaining in the regular calendar. Since Uruguayan Sebastian "Loco" Abreu (19), at Verano 2002, Cruz Azul has not had a top scorer.

Tigres also won 4-0 over Atlante at Universitario Stadium. It's true that the "Iron Colts" suffered a couple of red cards -- Guillermo Rojas (39') and Luis Velazquez (66') -- but Tigres worked together as a team and found an important result.

Gastón "La Gata" Fernández (2' and 36'), José Antonio Castro (68') and Edgar Castillo (72') gave form to the final result. Brazilian Itamar Batista missed a penalty kick (67') that could have tacked on another goal for Daniel Guzman's team.

San Luis is almost inside Liguilla, too. The "Gladiators" beat Santos Laguna 4-2, with a terrific recital from Alfredo Moreno. Argentinean "Hat Trick" (7', 26' and 76') and Braulio Luna (74') sealed the victory. Matías Vuoso (3') and Darwin Quintero (62') scored for Santos Laguna.

Toluca smashed Pachuca 3-0 and in the process eliminated the Tuzos from Liguilla contention. At La Bombonera Stadium, Chilean Hector Mancilla put the ball in the neat a couple of times (45' and 53'), but he left the game after an injury. Raul Nava put the last nail in Pachuca's coffin at 85'.

Guadalajara City lived its own derby. Chivas and Atlas played a game for the proud and the winner was the "Rebaño Sagrado" (The Holly Herd) by 4-1. The victory was constructed in only 45 minutes.

The first two minutes of the game were exciting. Omar Bravo (22 seconds) and Javier Hernandez (2') shook Atlas on the field and in the tribune. The Foxes tried to react, thanks to a Daniel Osorno goal (13'), but Guadalajara took command again with goals from Aaron Galindo (25') and "Chicharito" Hernandez.

In other results, Estudiantes beat Queretaro 2-0, Chiapas won 1-0 over Ciudad Juarez and Morelia and Pumas tied at 0-0.

Puebla, San Luis and Chivas will play the 17th and final Mexican week versus Toluca, Queretaro and Cruz Azul, respectively, trying to get their tickets to Liguilla.

Abel Reyes Díaz is a contributor to GlobalSoccerCenter.com.