Pavel Pardo and Jean Beausejour scored either side of halftime to
give America a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in Mexico's Clausura
tournament Sunday.
Pardo scored from a free kick in the ninth minute, and the
Chilean Beausejour made it 2-0 in the 52nd with a shot in the area.
It was the 16th straight match that America has won or drawn
against Mexico City rival Cruz Azul.
The victory improved America to nine points in the Clausura
standings. Cruz Azul has only four points despite spending $7
million to improve the team going into this season. Chivas is the
top club in Mexico with a perfect 15 points from five games.
In Sunday's other matches, Pumas drew 1-1 with Estudiantes,
Pachuca defeated Puebla 5-3 and Defending champion Monterrey downed
Tigres 2-1.
Pumas took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute after Pablo
Barrera's goal, but, despite their superiority over Estudiantes,
settled for a draw when Argentine Rubens Sambueza equalized with a
penalty late in the first half. Estudiantes' Freddy Bareiro was
sent off in the 23rd.
Ulises Mendivil scored in the 26th and 63rd minutes in
Pachuca's win over Puebla. Damian Alvarez scored in the 32nd for
Pachuca, while Francisco Torres found the net in the 84th and Dario
Cvitanich scored in injury time.
Puebla's goals came from Alvaro Gonzalez in the 25th minute,
Carlos Ruiz in the 44th and Marcelo Palau 14 minutes later.
Aldo de Nigris scored for Monterrey in the 23rd minute with a
shot in the area that was set up from a corner. Argentine Neri
Cardozo made it 2-0 in the 39th before Jesus Molina got one back
for Tigres. Monterrey's win gives it 10 points on the standings.
On Saturday, Guadalajara Chivas defeated Atlante 2-0 for its
fifth straight victory to start the season, a club record. Javier
Hernandez and Alberto Medina scored.
In other matches: Santos Laguna defeated Toluca 1-0,
Queretaro beat Jaguares 1-0, Morelia was a 3-0 winner over Atlas,
and San Luis drew Indios 1-1.
