Pachuca beats Toluca in opening round in Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- Otheniel Arce's second-half goal gave Pachuca a 1-0 victory over Toluca on Sunday in the opening round of the Apertura championship, the first of two tournaments in Mexico's split season setup.

Pumas drew 1-1 with Puebla, while current champion America's game against Tigres was postponed, as was bitter rival Chivas' match versus Santos Laguna. Both games had been rearranged due to the clubs having four or more players participating in CONCACAF's Gold Cup.

In other results, Leon defeated Atlante 1-0, Veracruz drew 2-2 with Chiapas, Cruz Azul won 1-0 against Monterrey, Tijuana drew 3-3 with Atlas and Morelia overcame Queretaro 3-1.

Arce latched on to a loose ball near the edge of the penalty area and stuck a low shot into the corner in the 79th.

Wilson Tiago went closest for Toluca,when he headed a left wing cross onto the post in the 63rd.

Pumas took the lead through Martin Bravo's easy finish in the 29th, but Matias Alustiza drew Puebla level two minutes from the final whistle.

On Saturday, Mauricio Castaneda came off the bench and scored the winner for Leon in the 81st. Atlante had Francisco Fonseca sent off for a late challenge in the 11th.

Angel Reyna scored from a free kick from the edge of the area to rescue a point for Veracruz in second-half injury time.

Aviles Hurtado opened the scoring for Chiapas with a curling shot and put his team in the lead in the 85th, after Luis Tejada had equalized for Veracruz from the penalty spot in the 54th.

Rogelio Chavez converted a penalty for Cruz Azul in the 53rd to secure the victory against Monterrey.

Cruz Azul had to hang on in the later stages after Mexico international Gerardo Torrado was sent off in the 85th.

Dario Benedetto scored all three of Tijuana's goals on Friday, netting twice in the first 18 minutes on his debut.

Matias Vuoso pulled one back for Atlas in the 30th from the penalty spot, but Benedetto restored the two-goal advantage in the 64th.

Vuoso scored with an overhead kick from the edge of the penalty area in the 69th and then set up Edson Rivera for the equalizer six minutes from time.

Edgar Andrade got Morelia's first in the 28th, with Jefferson Montero adding the second one minute after halftime and Hector Mancilla finishing off the scoring in the 73rd.

Mario Osuna netted for Quertaro two minute before the end.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/21/3512799/pachuca-beats-toluca-in-opening.html

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