Mexico: Chivas beats America in Clausura

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Sergio Ponce scored the winning goal and goalkeeper Luis Michel made three key saves as Chivas beat American 1-0 Sunday in the 14th round of the Mexican Clausura.

Alberto Medina dribbled past a defender from the left wing and sent a cross to Ponce, who beat America 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa with a well placed header. Michel deflected shots in the 61st, 73rd and 78th minute to preserve the win for Guadalajara.

With three rounds left to play in the regular season, Pumas, who earlier got a 0-0 draw in Ciudad Juarez, leads Group 2 with 24 points. Chivas is next with 19 points, Tecos is third with 18 while America remained on 17 with Morelia. Cruz Azul, which has just 12 after a 2-1 loss at home on Saturday, is eliminated from postseason play.

Francisco Ramirez, who was appointed as Chivas manager on Wednesday, got his first victory with the club after a long career as a top assistant with the national squad.

Earlier, in Toluca, defender Edgar Duenas's header in the 90th minute gave the Red Devils a 1-0 win over Jaguares as the reining champion qualified for the Clausura playoffs.

With the victory, Toluca has 29 points, 10 more than Jaguares, who are third in Group 1 with three rounds remaining in the regular season.

The best two teams in each group advance.

"Reach the playoffs was one of our goals ... Toluca keeps doing things the right way, we have to keep it up'', Duenas said.

Toluca lead the overall standings, while Pachuca is second with 27 after a 2-0 loss against Morelia on Saturday and Pumas remains on third with 24.

In other scores, it was: Santos 4, Atlas 1; Tecos 2, Atlante 1; Monterrey 1, San Luis 0; Cruz Azul 1, Puebla 2; and Necaxa 1, Tigres 0.

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