America and Chivas played to a 0-0 draw Sunday, complicating each club's chances of progressing beyond the group stage of the Mexican Apertura championship.
America has 18 points and is third in Group 2 after 13 rounds, while Chivas has 16 points and is fourth in Group 1. There are four weeks remaining in the regular season.
Omar Arellano in the seventh and Xavier Bez in the 57th had the best scoring chances for Chivas, while Uruguayan striker Vicente Sanchez in the 26th and Matias Vuoso in the 30th wasted opportunities for America.
"Now we depend on what other teams do and that is a very complicated position, but we can't surrender, we are going to try to qualify," Chivas manager Jose Luis Real said. "As long as we are alive, we will fight for the postseason."
In other results Sunday, Morelia had a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul and Toluca defeated Puebla 2-1.
The Blue Machine went ahead with a Javier Aquino goal in the 71st, but Miguel Sabah came off the bench to score the equalizer with two minutes remaining for Monarcas.
"It was a great goal, but I didn't enjoy it because we needed a win, there are only a few games left and we are out of the qualifying zone," said Sabah, who came into the match in the 68th for Rafael Marquez.
Cruz Azul has 29 points and leads the league along with undefeated Monterrey.
In Toluca, Antonio Naelson and Chilean Hector Mancilla scored as the Red Devils came back for a 2-1 win.
Argentine player Gabriel Pereyra put the visitors ahead in the 18th from Yasser Corona's cross, but Naelson equalized in the 44th from a free kick and Mancilla scored the winner in the 70th.
Toluca has 20 points and is in second spot in Group 2.
