Chivas of Guadalajara and Cruz Azul became the first two clubs to secure spots in the Mexican league playoff semifinals on Saturday.
Chivas salvaged a 1-1 draw at UANL Tigres to complete a 4-2 aggregate victory, while Cruz Azul protected a 2-1 lead from the first leg with a scoreless draw at Atlante.
Chivas is in the semifinals for the first time since the Apertura 2007 season. Cruz Azul has been runner-up four times since winning the last of its eight championships in 1997.
The other two semifinal berths will be decided Sunday when defending champion Monterrey visits Pumas with a 3-1 first-leg advantage, and Morelia looks to protect a 2-1 lead at home against America.
Chivas had taken the first leg against Tigres with a 3-1 win at home, but Hector Mancilla gave the Monterrey club the hope of a comeback with a header from Damian Alvarez's cross in the 65th.
Tigres was reduced to 10 men after defender Juninho was shown a red card for bringing down Alberto Medina in the 50th, but the home side continued to press in search of the second goal needed to advance.
Danilinho was then shown a yellow card for diving in the box in the 74th minute as Tigres' tactics became increasingly desperate and Hector Reynoso finally secured the draw for Chivas on a rebound off a missed penalty kick in the 79th.
The loss meant Tigres joined a long list of teams that finished atop the general standings during the regular season but failed to advance in the playoffs.
In the 30 half-season tournaments that have been played in Mexico since 1996, only two teams have gone on to claim the championship after finishing on top of the general table.
Pachuca managed the feat in the Clausura tournaments of 1996 and 1997, while Toluca has pulled it off three times - in the summer tournaments of 1998 and 1999 and in the winter tournament in 2000.
In Cancun, Cruz Azul survived a relentless Atlante attack to hold on for the 0-0 draw.
Atlante got players into promising position throughout the match, but failed to capitalize.
Cruz Azul had its best chance in the 54th minute when Christian Gimenez tried to score off a defense-splitting pass from Emanuel Villa but was rejected by Atlante goalkeeper Moises Munoz.
