Los Rayados del Monterrey is in second place in the standings
On Sunday, Toluca-Querétaro, Santos Laguna-Mazatlán FC and León-Tijuana
Ecuadorian Michael Estrada scored this Saturday the goal with which Cruz Azul beat Chivas del Guadalajara 2-1 at the last minute to climb to seventh place in the Mexican Apertura 2022 tournament that will allow him to play the playoffs at home.
On the last day of the regular phase of the championship, Uriel Antuna was the other scorer for the Celesteswho reached 24 points and will be able, starting next week, to receive a rival to be defined in their stadium.
Sergio Flores was the scorer for Chivaswho fell to ninth place, which, although it assures them a ticket in the playoffs, will force them to play the duel that gives access to the quarterfinals as visitors.
The first half was played at a slow pace, with both draws problems to step on the area of his rival.
It was until Cruz Azul lost the Argentine defender due to injury Ramiro Funes Mori, replaced by Argentine winger Carlos Rotondithat Guadalajara found spaces that he only took advantage of with a deflected shot by Roberto Alvarado at minute 37.
However, at Chivas’ best moment, the blues came forward. At 45+2, Rotondi served to the right wing where Antuna, without markers, outlined himself and converted the 1-0 from the right.
Guadalajara was the team that generated the most danger in the second half, in which after failures by Alexis Vega, at 55, and Ángel Zaldívar, at 63, he tied.
A series of rebounds in the area allowed Flores to capture the ball and after a half turn define the 1-1 over the goalkeeper José de Jesús Corona at 68.
Chivas were able to go up on the scoreboard with a shot by Cristian Calderón, at 73, which crashed into the Corona goal post.
In the final minutes of the match, Cruz Azul pressed and sentenced the victory. Rodrigo Huescas, from the right, crossed a service that Estrada, with the head, scored the 2-1 at the second post.
Before, the Rayados del Monterrey were confirmed in second place in the classification of the regular phase when drawing goalless against the Tuzos del Pachuca; Both sides advanced directly to the quarterfinals and avoided the playoffs by finishing in the top four of the first round.
Also, the UANL Tigers consolidated in the fifth place of the classification by thrashing San Luis 0-3 and the two-time champion Atlas beat Necaxa 1-0 in the farewell of the coach who made him a double monarch, the Argentine Diego Cocca.
The seventeenth day began last Friday with the victory of the leader America by 1-2 over Puebla and Juárez FC 3-1 against Pumas UNAM.
The matches will end this Sunday with duels Toluca-Querétaro, Santos Laguna-Mazatlán FC and León-Tijuana.
