Posted: Sunday November 15, 2009 11:22PM; Updated: Sunday November 15, 2009 11:22PM

America secures 4th seed in Mexican playoffs

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Carlos Ochoa scored in stoppage time Sunday as Santos salvaged a 1-1 draw against America, which secured the fourth seed in the Mexican Apertura quarterfinal playoffs.

Paraguayan striker Salvador Cabanas put the Eagles ahead in the 34th minute on a cross from Enrique Esqueda, but Ochoa scored off a rebound three minutes into stoppage time to earn Santos a point in the first regular season match at its new Corona stadium.

"In a way, we're closing the tournament on a better way,'' Ochoa said, referring to Santos going winless in four matches.

Santos qualified for the postseason as the sixth seed and will play Morelia in the quarterfinals.

Toluca, which had the best record, will play San Luis, which qualified on Saturday despite a 4-0 loss to Queretaro.

In the other series, Cruz Azul will play Puebla and America take on Monterrey.

The first leg of the quarterfinals will be played next weekend, with the schedule to be released Tuesday.

Earlier in Mexico City, the defending champion Pumas rallied for a 1-1 draw against Ciudad Juarez in a match between already eliminated clubs.

Hector Gimenez scored in the 39th for the Indians, but Marco Palacios tied the score in the 43rd.

"A win would have been better, but we gave a good effort,'' Palacios said. Pumas finished last in Group 3 with 17 points from 17 matches. "We need to do an analysis in the vacations, next tournament everybody starts at zero.''

Ciudad Juarez finished the season without a win and only six draws and could be relegated next season.

"It's a shame, we were not able to win any matches, we need to keep working, we have to get some more players,'' Ciudad Juarez's midfielder Tomas Campos said.

In other scores: Monterrey 1, Morelia 1; Jaguares 2, Atlas 3; Pachuca 1, Tigres 1; Puebla 0, Toluca 2; Atlante 0, Estudiantes 0.