Christian Gimenez scored a hat-trick as Cruz Azul came from behind to win 3-2 at Chiapas on Saturday, pulling level with Santos at the top of the Mexican Apertura table.
Gimenez scored the game's opener from a free kick in the 16th minute, hit a long-range drive in the 63rd and notched the winning goal in the 79th. Jorge Rodriguez equalized in the 30th and Edgar Andrade scored in the 50th to give Chiapas a temporary lead.
Cruz Azul is level on points atop the standings after four wins in five, alongside Santos, which lost 1-0 at UANL Tigres.
Also on Saturday, Monterrey remained unbeaten despite conceding a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Pachuca.
Later in the day, Atlas hosted Toluca and Guadalajara visited Atlante.
Gimenez scored his first goals of the tournament against Chiapas - bagging a treble for the first time since the Clausura 2009 tournament when playing for Pachuca against Necaxa.
The Argentine forward opened the scoring with a free kick from outside the area that left Chiapas goalkeeper Jorge Villalpando rooted to the spot.
Cruz Azul missed opportunities to extend the lead, with Alejandro Vela wasting the best chance with a close range effort in the 27th minute.
Rodriguez leveled with a free kick that flew into the top right corner of the goal after half an hour and Chiapas took the lead when Danilinho played a ball through for Andrade to beat Corona early in the second half.
As Jaguares enjoyed its best period of the match, Gimenez received a pass from compatriot Emanuel Villa and equalized for Cruz Azul with a fierce drive.
Gimenez sealed the comeback and snatched his third goal with a low shot after the Chiapas defence failed to clear Vela's corner.
Meanwhile, an unmarked Dario Cvitanich headed the opening goal for Pachuca from a free kick in the eighth minute against Monterrey Rayados.
Pablo Marini was making his debut as Pachuca coach following two straight defeats that led to the resignation of Guillermo Rivarola.
Humberto Suazo scored an equalizer with a diagonal drive from an angle that flew in off the post in the 69th minute and Aldo De Nigris put Rayados in front with a back-post header from Osvaldo Martinez' cross in the 78th.
In stoppage time, Daniel Arreola scored with a header from a corner that was adjudged to have crossed the line before goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco cleared.
Just before the end of the match, Pachuca's Paraguayan midfielder Edgar Benitez collapsed on the pitch. Medics treated the player and he was taken to hospital for studies. No medical data on his condition has yet been released.
In Monterrey, UANL Tigres upset Santos' perfect record with a low free kick from Brazilian midfielder Juninho to earn a 1-0 win.
Later in the day, two goals and a red card marked a frantic start to the match between Atlante and Guadalajara.
Omar Bravo opened the scoring in the first minute for Guadalajara - coming off a loss in the Copa Libertadores final - but Edgar Mejia was sent off in the second and Atlante turn the score round.
Matias Cardaccio scored the equalizer two minutes after the red card and a Johan Fano header in the 36th to earn a first win of the season for Atlante.
Meanwhile, Antonio Naelson scored from outside the box in stoppage time as defending champion Toluca had a 1-0 win at Atlas.
Santos remains top of the general standings on goal difference ahead of Cruz Azul. Rayados is a point back in third.
On Friday, UAG Estudiantes won 3-2 at home against San Luis.
On Sunday, it's Morelia vs. Necaxa, UNAM Pumas vs. Puebla and Queretaro vs. America.
