By: Jonny Rico
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Week 6 of the LIGA Bancomer MX came to a close on Sunday evening. Cruz Azul and Tijuana Xolos continued their steady lead over the rest, and Club America found its fire power. Relegation drama was added as Puebla FC found an unlikely win, while Chivas of Guadalajara dropped points at home.
Club Queretaro 1-2 Cruz Azul
Queretaro managed what no team had been able to do thus far this season: score a goal against Cruz Azul’s strong defense. Patricio Rubio scored a 27th minute goal to end the Cruz Azul ‘no-goal’ streak at 476 minutes. But with two penalties the visitors turned the score around and took home all three points to remain undefeated and at the top of the league table. The second penalty was converted by Christian ‘Chaco’ Gimenez, his 100th Liga MX goal of his career.
Tijuana Xolos 3-0 Pumas UNAM
Second place Tijuana Xolos maintained their pursuit of Cruz Azul with another win at home this time over Mexico City’s university side Pumas UNAM. The win keeps them just point behind the league leaders. The visitors created a lot of dangerous opportunities in the early minutes but were not able to take advantage.
New Argentine attacker Gabriel Hauche was able to set up countryman Alfredo Moreno with a huge individual effort. Venezuelan international Juan Arango added a superb free-kick into the top corner as well as penalty to round up the scoring.
Club America 5-0 Chiapas FC
The reigning Mexican league champions Club America found the step they were missing in the early season matches and outclassed the visiting Chiapas FC who had been playing quality football up until then. Paraguayan midfielder Osvaldo Martinez opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a 50-yard bomb that went over the goalkeeper’s head. Martinez later assisted Dario Benedetto for the third goal with a long chip pass that left him all alone in front of the goalkeeper but not before Benedetto had set up left wing-back Miguel Samudio for the 2-0 lead.
In the second half Benedetto again assisted a goal setting up Mexican National Team striker Oribe Peralta. Peralta completed his brace from a Christian Pellerano assist to round up the scoring. The win takes the champions to third place in the league table, one point behind Xolos and two behind Cruz Azul.
Puebla 2-0 Monterrey
The relegation race just became tighter with Puebla FC picking up three points over Monterrey. Colombian striker Luis Gabriel Rey was brought down in the box in the early minutes of the second half and he himself converted the penalty kick with a chip shot down the middle to give Puebla the lead. Matias Aluztiza sealed the win for the host with a header. The win takes closed the five-point gap between them and Chivas of Gudalajara to three points.
Tigres UANL 1-0 Morelia
In another typical underwhelming performance by last season’s runners up, Tigres UANL took all three points over last place Monarcas Morelia. Jose Alberto Dueñas scored the lone goal of the match in the second half to give the host the win.
Leon 2-1 Leones Negros
The re-surging Leon managed its second consecutive win with the 2-1 result over relegation threaten Leones Negros. Miguel Sabah and Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Gonzlaez got on the score sheet for the host with headers. Juan Luis Anangono gave the visitors some hope pulling them within one. But a red card to star forward Fidel Martinez killed off the visitors.
Atlas 1-3 Pachuca
A man-of-the-match performance by Jurgan Damm who had a goal and an assist for Pachuca lead the team to a big win over Atlas FC on the road. Inconsistency has hit both teams this season and both can come up with big wins as well as big losses in any given week.
Toluca 2-2 Santos
Twice Toluca FC held the lead and twice Santos came from behind to equalize. New Santos signing Diego ‘Pulpo’ Gonzalez found the back of the net in the second minute of added time in the second half to spoil what looked like a home win for Toluca. Gonzlaez had also found an equalizer in the 12th minute of play after central defender Pablo Da Silva had opened the scoring in the third minute.
Chivas Guadalajara 0-0 Veracruz
Chivas of Guadalajara misses out on a huge opportunity to take an important step to relegation safety. Veracruz, a direct relegation rival walks away from Guadalajara securing a point which leaves the southern port side ahead of the other three relegation threaten teams; including Chivas. Combined with the Puebla win, Chivas have now seen its five point lead over Puebla trimmed down to three.
WATCH ALL WEEK 6 GOALS:
Video Credit: LIGA Bancomer MX
