MEXICO CITY (AP) – Ecuadorian Michael Estrada and Raúl López scored goals in the first 11 minutes of the game and Toluca defeated América 3-1 on Sunday to set foot in the reclassification to the league of the Mexican Clausura tournament.
Estrada took advantage of a great pass from Argentine Pedro Alexis Canelo to score the first goal in the seventh minute and four minutes later López doubled the lead with a shot from outside the area to lead the game.
Canelo increased the quota to 72 after a pass from Estrada through Toluca, which cut a string of six games without a victory and reached 22 points, with which he placed in seventh position with one date remaining on the regular calendar.
Canelo reached 11 goals and is the leader among the scorers.
The Red Devils control their destiny and would advance to the playoffs with a win next Friday against Ciudad Juárez.
The Argentine Emanuel Aguilera discounted at 50 by way of the penalty for the Eagles, who saw a streak of eight games broken without losing and remained with 35 points, in second place.
Las Águilas will no longer move from that site no matter what happens on the last date against Pumas.
America faced the match with several substitutes due to the absences of striker Henry Martín, Spanish midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo, midfielder Sebastián Córdova and full-back Jorge Sánchez.
Argentine coach Santiago Solari probably decided to give them rest because the Azulcremas have a game on Wednesday against the Portland Timbers for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League.
Toluca took the lead with a great play by Canelo, who took a ball from midfield and traveled the entire right wing until he reached the area where he delayed for Estrada, who only pushed the ball to the back of the net.
America was still not recovering when “Dedos” López took a rebound on the outskirts of the area and took a powerful shot that entered the left post of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
The Eagles discounted at the beginning of the second half when Jorge Torres Nilo committed a hand inside the area for a penalty that was validated with the VAR and converted by Aguilera with a shot to the left side of goalkeeper Luis García.
Toluca tied the victory in a counterattack play on the left in which Canelo took his marker, entered the area and gave a pass to Estrada, who shook off the mark of two defenders and returned for the Argentine forward to specify with a powerful right leg shot.
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