Chivas, Pumas out of Liguilla

Mexican powerhouses fail to qualify for Apertura 2009 playoffs

Dante Lopez and Pumas will not have the chance to defend their trophy. (AP)

Toluca-San Luis, Cruz Azul-Puebla, Morelia-Santos Laguna and America-Monterrey are the meetings at Liguilla Apertura 2009, and one of those eight clubs will be crowned the new champion.

Finally, "Red Devils" were the best in the town. With the maximum position at the League, Toluca is the first team qualified to Copa Libertadores 2010 and is still the favorite squad to get the trophy that Pumas has left.

Raul Nava (16' and 26') shot a couple of times to Puebla portico and got a new victory for Jose Manuel de la Torre and pupils, who definitely are the most important choice to win Apertura.

Morelia and Monterrey tied 1-1 in a result that did not work it out for either team. Both squads tried to finish at the top of the league, but the final result located Monarcas and Rayados in third and fifth place, respectively.

Jaguars are an exceptional case. Chiapas is the worst home team, but at the same time is the best away squad. This paradox left Jaguares out of Liguilla, after the defeat at home versus Atlas, 3-2.

Oribe Peralta (8') and Yasser Corona (70') scored for Chiapas, while Hebert Alferez (55') and Daniel Osorno (62' and 77') gave the third victory for Ricardo La Volpe in this championship.

Chivas had the chance to enter to Liguilla, but they did not score just one goal to beat Cruz Azul. Guadalajara was waiting for a debacle for San Luis (as it happened), but "Holy Flock" did not find the answers to open the "Blue Machine" defense.

As a matter of fact, Cruz Azul were expecting like a snake and their best scorer, Emanuel Villa, put the ball in the net of Luis Michel and got three marvelous points for manager Enrique Meza.

At the same time, San Luis lost 4-0 against Queretaro, a team that has chance his face in the last meetings. Despite the catastrophe, "Gladiators" entered to Liguilla and will face Toluca, the chief at Mexican League.

Isaac Romo (30'), Mauro Vila (46'), José Aceves (82') and Carlos Pinto (86') got the triumph for Chilean coach Carlos Reinoso and company.

Santos Laguna inaugurated their new Stadium, Territorio Santos Modelo, at Mexican League versus America, but the party was almost spoiled by the Eagles in a game full of great actions and emotions.

Oswaldo Sanchez, from Santos Laguna and Guillermo Ochoa, from America, had a particular "mano a mano" and both Mexican goalkeepers showed their best repertoire under the porter's lodge.

Salvador Cabañas (24') scored first for the "Eagles" and when there were only a few seconds to the end of the game, Carlos Ochoa (90') tied the confrontation and gave back the smile to Sergio Bueno and all the people from Torreon, Coahuila.

In other results that did not affect the team's positions for the Finals, Pachuca tied 1-1 with Tigres, Pumas tied 1-1 with Indios and Atlante also tied 0-0 against Estudiantes.

Abel Reyes Díaz is a contributor to GlobalSoccerCenter.com.