Morelia sends Chivas into a deep crisis in Mexican league

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MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Morelia scored twice in six minutes Sunday in a 3-1 comeback win over a Chivas team that lost its third straight match and plunged into a deep crisis in the Mexican Apertura championship.

Javier Hernandez' penalty in the 35th put Guadalajara ahead, but Aldo Leao Ramirez leveled in the 52nd and, six minutes later, a spectacular scissors kick by Colombian striker Luis Gabriel Rey gave Morelia the lead for good.

Elias Hernandez sealed the win in the 67th for Morelia, which has the second best record in Mexico with 28 points in 14 rounds, just one point shy of the first place Toluca, which had a 2-0 win over Queretaro on Sunday to become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

Carlos Esquivel (65th) and Antonio Naelson (80th) scored goals for the Red Devils, who got their first victory since the 10th round to secure their spot in the postseason.

With three rounds remaining in the regular season, Chivas was on 15 points and in third place in Group 1. The 11-time champions were in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Later, at estadio Azteca, Enrique Esqueda scored a goal with 15 minutes left to play as America salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to Jaguars.

Oscar Razo scored in a counter attack play in the 68th but Esqueda's header off a cross from Pavel Pardo earned the Eagles a draw, enough for 26 points and second place in Group 2.

In Torreon, Matias Vuoso scored the last goal in the history of the Corona Stadium and gave Santos a 1-1 draw against the Pumas, who are out of the playoffs less than six months after winning their sixth title.

Pablo Barrera got a goal in the 10th minute but Vuoso tied it in the 66th for the Warriors, who will open a new stadium next Wednesday with a friendly match.

In other scores, it was: Cruz Azul 3, Atlante 1; Ciudad Juarez 0, Puebla 2; Tigres 2, Estudiantes 2; San Luis 0, Monterrey 3; Atlas 1, Pachuca 1.

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