America beat Atlante 3-0 on Tuesday to take the Group A lead in the
Mexican InterLiga.
Paraguay international striker Salvador Cabanas netted twice
for America and substitute Luis Alonso Sandoval also scored as
America got its goals in a 16-minute burst midway through the
second half.
Two wins from two games put America three points clear of
Atlanta and Estudiantes Tecos in the group, and poised to advance
to the semifinals.
In Tuesday's other Group A game, Estudiantes Tecos had a 2-0
win over Santos Laguna, which has lost both its games.
Paraguay international Fredy Jose Bareiro put the Tecos ahead
in the 14th minute and Chilean playmaker Rodrigo Ruiz made it 2-0
in the 59th.
"I'm happy because it represents winning and tallying more
points and it gives us confidence for our next game against
America," Ruiz said. "And now we control our own destiny for
advancing to the next round."
Cabanas' brace gave the America striker three goals from two
games in the tournament.
"Today Cabanas was really, really good," said America
midfielder Pavel Pardo, whose corner set up Cabanas' second. "But
the key for the game today was we were more compact on defense, and
then we played very fast in the front."
InterLiga, an eight-team tournament of Mexican teams played
in the United States, determines two automatic berths into the Copa
Libertadores, the South American club championship, for the 2010
season.
