Marco Fabian (pictured) celebrates after scoring one of his two goals in Cruz Azul's 4-1 Liga MX victory over Atlante on February 9, 2014. (Photo: Mexsport)

Table-topping Cruz Azul wins big at Atlante, while Toluca keeps pace in second with a bounce-back victory over Chiapas.  CONCACAF.com recaps the weekend’s action from Mexico

 

2013/14 CONCACAF QUARTERFINALISTS

Marco Fabian scored two goals and first-place Cruz Azul (16 points) remained unbeaten through six games after defeating 4-1 Atlante (5 points) on Sunday.  The former Guadalajara star struck in the first and 82nd minutes, while Joao Rojas (47’) and Mauro Formica (64’) each netted in the second half.  The five-time CONCACAF champion took its goal total for the season to 13, four more than any other team.

Toluca (13 points) bounced back from a loss at Santos to beat visiting Chiapas (7 points), 2-0, on Sunday and remain in second place.  After a scoreless first half, Isaac Brizuela (50’) and Pablo Velazquez (86’) struck for the Red Devils, who outshot Chiapas, 12-4.

Host Club Tijuana (10 points) rallied from a second-half deficit on Friday, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to beat Monterrey (6 points), 2-1.  The result extended the Xolos’ home unbeaten streak to 17 games in all competitions.  Cesar Delgado put the Rayados in front in the 66th minute, but the host leveled 10 minutes later when Dario Benedetto tapped in from a yard out following a corner.  Cristian Pellerano, who helped set up Benedetto’s equalizer, headed home the 86th minute winner.

2014/15 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS

Martin Bravo struck for a brace for the second consecutive week as visiting Pumas (10 points) defeated Leon (5 points), 2-1, on Saturday at the Estadio Nou Camp.  After Bravo, the Liga MX leading scorer with six goals, put Pumas in front on nine minutes, Luis Montes equalized for Leon in the 27th.  Bravo, though, added his second on 79 minutes as Leon stretched its winless streak to four games.

Club America (12 points) sits one point behind second-place Toluca, but had its three-game winning streak snapped as Pachuca (10 points) debutant Rodrigo Lozano struck in the 89th minute to lift the Tuzos to a dramatic victory Saturday at Estadio Azteca.

WEEKEND NOTES

  • Despite finishing the match with nine men, Queretaro knocked off Veracruz, 2-0, on Sunday. Ricardo Jesus (9’) and Yasser Corona (69’) struck for the White Roosters, while Isaac Romo (38’) and Gil Buron (50’) were sent off with straight red cards.
  •  After six rounds of play, nine of the 18 teams have one win or fewer.

Other results:  Puebla 0-1 Guadalajara; Atlas 1-1 Morelia; Tigres 1-1 Santos