Cruz Azul 1 – 1 Toluca

Underdog Toluca came into Cruz Azul’s home stadium and wrapped up the series and their semifinals pass with a 1-1 (3-2 aggregate) tie.

In a flashback of last season’s clash between the two teams, Cruz Azul could not overcome the 2-1 loss at Toluca.

Switching between 5-2-3 and a 4-3-3 formations, the Red Devils scored in the 8th minute when Vicente Sanchez found Ismael Valadez for the goal.

Finally, Miguel Sabah got the Blue Machine on the board in the injury time, but they fell short by one goal, as the defending champions, Toluca moved on.

Toluca will play San Luis in the semifinals, with the first leg to be played at Toluca Wed May 10th.

Atlante 0 – 0 San Luis

In another upset, San Luis, who needed some last-minute fireworks to slip into the playoffs and avoid relegations, shut-out Atlante 0-0 away and managed to hold onto their 1-0 home win in the first leg to advance to the semifinals.

The Tuneros could have won the game outright, but Octavio Valdez missed a penalty kick and Emilio Mora hit the left post.

A fan hit assistant Jose de Jesus Torres with a projectile, for which Atlante will be penalized with a closed match.

Atlante’s elimination also means there are no teams from the capital, as Cruz Azul was also eliminated, and Pumas and America failed to qualify.

San Luis will play Toluca in the semifinals, with the first leg to be played at Toluca Wed May 10th.

Chiapas 2 – 4 Guadalajara

10-man Chivas defeated favored Jaguares away 4-2 (6-5) with a dramatic injury time goal to advance to the Clausura ’06 semis.

Bringing home a 3-2 advantage, Jaguares struck early (22 seconds) and looked to be in firm control of the game.

Chilean Walter Jiménez hit the net off a Salvador Cabañas pass down the right flank for the quick lead.

Chivas answered, however, as Edwin Borboa struck from the left in the 23rd to even the game.

And in the 32nd, ex-Necaxa stopper, Diego Martinez sent a ball through the keeper’s legs for the improbable lead and aggregate tie at 4-4.

The cats woke up in the second half as Guarani hit man, Salvador Cabañas buried a penalty kick in the 52nd to level the game, a score which would have been enough for the home team.

But Chivas had other ideas.

Eccentric striker, #100 nailed a penalty in the 84th to put the flock back on top, but ‘Bofo’ was sent off a minute later for hitting Chilean Ismael Fuentes.

In stoppage time, an unmarked Johnny Garcia rebounded a center into the box for the go-ahead score that sent the goats to the semifinals, and left the crowd at Tuxtla Gutierrez stunned.

Guadalajara will play Pachuca in the semis, beginning Thursday, May 11th at home.

Pachuca 3 – 1 Morelia

The Gophers would have gone through with an aggregate draw, but the 3-1 home win over the Monarchs, who finished with nine men, gave Pachuca the 4-3 series win and semifinals qualification.

Just like in the first leg, Richard Nuñez opened the scoring, this time in the 3rd minute, taking a Luis Landin pass, evading his man, and drilling the net where Moises Muñoz could do nothing to stop it.

“Pepino” Cuevas drove the ball from his own area and rifled home with his left boot to give his side the 2-0.

Pachuca was not content with that.

Luis Angel Landin got free and put himself in position to tap in the third goal of the game for the home team in the 57th minute.

With 10 men, after losing Cristian Nasuti in the 61st minute, Morelia’s last gasp yielded a Luis Gabriel Rey score in the 71st minute, making things interesting for the home team in the last half hour.

Morelia lost its second player, Damian Alvarez, sent off in the 80th minute, leaving them with nine men.

Pachuca will begin the semifinals at Guadalajara Thursday, May 11th.

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