Raul Jimenez scored twice in the second half as America defeated ten-man Guadalajara Chivas 2-0 on Sunday in the clash of Mexico's two best-supported clubs.
Jimenez opened the scoring in the 52nd minute and got his second in the75th, both after Chivas' Sergio Perez was sent off in the 36th.
In other results in round 12 of the Clausura Championship, UANL Tigres stayed top with a 2-1 win against Puebla, Atlas remained in second following its 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul and America moved into third.
Chivas shaded possession and chances in the first half, but were forced to substitute both midfielder Jorge Enriquez and Hector Reynoso, who picked up injuries, within the first 25 minutes.
When Perez was shown his second yellow card for a push, America slowly started to take control of the match.
Mexico international Jimenez headed in from a inswinging corner for his first goal and nodded in his second from close range, with goalkeeper Luis Michel getting a hand to it and almost keeping it out.
Tigres' winner came in the 87th minute when Alan Pulido tapped in from close range.
Spaniard Luis Garcia had put Tigres into the lead with a first time finish in the 32nd, before U.S. international DaMarcus Beasley headed in the equalizer for Puebla in the 58th.
Atlas' Argentine Matias Vuoso stuck a vicious shot from the edge of the area in the 54th for the winning goal against Cruz Azul.
Luis Ramos headed in Atlas' first in the 39th and Israel Castro bundled the ball over the line for Cruz Azul's equalizer in the 51st. Atlas are two points behind Tigres.
Santos Laguna is in fourth place, six points off Tigres following their 1-1 draw against Queretaro.
Mexico international Oribe Peralta scored for Santos in the 38th, with Queretaro's equalizer coming in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time through an own goal by Felipe Baloy.
In other games, Toluca defeated Tijuana 1-0, Monterrey won 3-0 against UNAM Pumas, Morelia overcame Atlante 4-0, San Luis won 3-0 against Jaguares and Leon drew 0-0 with Pachuca.
