“Moja 'channels in Monterrey's victory, which is one step away from the' semis'

Monterrey on Wednesday took a small advantage towards the semifinals of the Mexican Soccer Clausura Tournament after beating 3-2 at home to Toluca at the beginning of the series for the quarterfinals. In the other tie, the current champion America took a goalless draw from his visit to Pachuca. Both series will be defined on Saturday.

“We have faced a great rival and I think we have dominated it widely. We deserved something else, but this makes us be attentive and we go there (Toluca) with great enthusiasm and we know that it will be a hard game,” said Argentine Sebastián Grazzini, technical assistant of Martín Demichelis.

In the match played at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Toluca's “Red Devils” took advantage at 16 minutes when the defender Víctor Guzmán scored in his own goal when trying to reject a center sent by Jesús Gallardo from the left sector.

Monterrey responded at 30 minutes with a shot of Jesus “Tecatito” Corona that passed very close to the left post. The local team tied at 44 minutes when Colombian Nelson Deossa put the ball attached to the right post with a shot from outside the area that was diverted by Héctor Herrera, which left without the opportunity to react to the Spanish goalkeeper Pau López.

Monterrey turned the score at 50 minutes with a shot by the Spanish Sergio Canales inside the area after controlling a pass from the Colombian John Stefan Medina. Monterrey's “Rayados” goal fell at 69 minutes when Germán Berterame took advantage of a Gallardo error, who delayed the ball to his goalkeeper, but the Argentine striker came forward to steal him, eluded López and defined before the unprotected goal.

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Near the end, Toluca discounted with a header of the Brazilian Luan García after a center sent by Alexis Vega from the right sector by charging a foul at 82 minutes. “It was our worst game of the year, we were very inaccurate, but we must not put excuses and now we have the possibility to win. We left alive, the rival surpassed us but this is 180 minutes, now we have to play at home where we have the possibility of tracing,” said Toluca technical director, Argentine Antonio Mohamed.

The other two series will start Thursday with the matches between Necaxa-Tigres UANL and León-Cruz Azul. Both keys will be resolved on Sunday.