Stage set for Mexico semifinals

Stage set for Mexico semifinals

Published Nov. 18, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

The semifinals in Mexico's first division playoffs are set, with America scheduled to play Toluca and Tijuana to face Leon.

In weekend second-leg quarterfinal matches, Tijuana drew 1-1 with Monterrey and Toluca defeated Chivas 3-1 on Sunday, while Leon defeated Cruz Azul 3-0 and America lost 2-1 to Morelia on Saturday, but went through on aggregate, and.

The first round of the semifinals are scheduled to be played Wednesday and Thursday, with the return legs next weekend.

Pablo Aguilar headed in from a corner in the 52nd minute to give Tijuana the lead, after Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco had made a series of saves to keep his team in the game.

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Aldo De Nigris equalized in second-half injury time for Monterrey.

A late goal from Texan Greg Garza on Thursday gave Tijuana a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg.

Two goals in two minutes took the game beyond Chivas, with Brazilian Wilson Matias tapping in Toluca's first in the 56th and countryman Lucas Silva heading in the second.

Juan Carlos Cacho was left with an easy finish in the 72nd minute for the third, with Erick Torres getting a consolation goal for Chivas in the 82nd.

Toluca also won Thursday's first leg, taking a 2-1 lead into the second game.

Morelia - trailing 2-0 from Wednesday's first leg - took the lead against America in the 2nd minute when Colombian defender Aquivaldo Mosquera failed to control the ball on the edge of the area to hand Joao Rojas an easy chance.

Raul Jimenez equalized for America in the 39th with a driven shot from just inside the penalty area, before Miguel Sabah put Morelia back in the lead three minutes later after being put through on goal with a lofted pass.

Uruguayan Matias Britos scored in the 10th and 33rd for Leon, with Luis Delgado adding the third three minutes from the end. Leon came into the match 2-1 down on aggregate.

Cruz Azul striker Mariano Pavone was sent off in the 81st.

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