Mexican League Roundup, Jan. 8

Published Jan. 9, 2011 9:34 a.m. ET

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Cruz Azul thrashed Estudiantes Tecos 4-1 at home, while San Luis beat defending champion Monterrey 2-0 in the first round of the Mexican Clausura championship on Saturday.

Emanuel Villa, Christian Gimenez and Marcelo Palau scored in the first half for Cruz Azul, with Gonzalo Pineda adding a late fourth from the penalty spot. Mauro Cejas scored for Estudiantes.

Meanwhile Osmar Mares opened for San Luis in the 74th minute at Monterrey, with Juan Medina scoring the second goal in stoppage time. Monterrey's William Paredes was sent off in the 88th.

In other results Saturday, it was: Santos Laguna 2, Atlante 1; Queretaro 2, UANL Tigres 2; Atlas 5, Morelia 0.

On Friday, Chiapas won 1-0 at Necaxa.

In Mexico City, Villa set Cruz Azul on the way to a comfortable victory against Tecos after Hugo Droguett's cross from the left broke for him to finish from close range in the sixth minute.

Gimenez added a second with a diagonal shot that went just inside the far post in the 15th minute.

Cejas scored a penalty to give Estudiantes hope in the 19th minute following a tug on Eduardo Lillingston inside the box, but Cruz Azul scored a third when Javier Orozco pulled the ball back for Palau to hit into the roof of the net in the 38th.

The win was sealed when Gonzalo Pineda scored from the spot in the 86th minute after Gimenez had been fouled by goalkeeper Moises Munoz.

Cruz Azul is among the favorites for the Clausura championship after finishing the previous tournament top of the general standings only to lose in the playoff quarterfinals.

Reigning champion Monterrey, missing key players to injury and a lack of match fitness, opened its title defense with a home loss against San Luis.

Mares gave the visiting side the lead after a free kick ricocheted into his path in the 74th minute.

William Paredes was sent off for a high challenge in the 88th minute and Medina chipped the second goal over goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco to seal victory for San Luis.

Santos, another team expected to challenge for the title, started with a 2-1 win against Atlante. Darwin Quintero gave Santos the lead with a finish from Daniel Luduena's cutback in the 55th, while Christian Benitez broke through to add a second in the 73rd.

Fernando Navarro pulled a goal back for Atlante with a shot from the edge of the area in the 82nd minute.

Queretaro's Carlos Bueno scored in the 19th and 56th minutes to give the hosts a two-goal advantage against Tigres, but a Danilinho header in the 71st and Lucas Lobos' equalizer in the 78th gave the visiting side a share of the points.

Atlas stormed past Morelia with a 5-0 home victory thanks to two goals from Gerardo Espinoza. Wilman Conde, Christian Diaz and Daniel Osorno completed the scoring.

The match was played in an empty stadium as a punishment after Atlas fans clashed with police in the club's final match of the previous season.

Three matches are scheduled for Sunday: Puebla vs. Guadalajara, America vs. Pachuca and Toluca vs. UNAM Pumas.