Zendejas leads Club America over Cruz Azul, Santos shocks Monterrey, Pumas win again

The playoff picture is a bit clearer in Liga MX after this weekend's play, as four teams helped position themselves inside the top twelve in the standings. A total of 22 players based in Mexico are now in Arizona to feature in this week's non-FIFA date friendly between the USA and Mexico.

Before we get to the big rivalry in Concacaf, we recap what stood out from Matchday 15. Atletico de San Luis collected a vital home win over Juarez on Thursday night, allowing Jardine's squad to hang around in the playoff hopefuls, as the border team extended its winless streak to nine.

Friday's lineup started with Necaxa and Puebla but neither was able to help their cause with a victory, instead playing to a draw that hurts both team's chances at the postseason. Tijuana, with suspended manager "Piojo" Herrera in the stands, took a 2-1 victory at Mazatlan thanks to two penalties from Pedro Canelo.

Following its own elimination from the Concacaf Champions League, Atlas moved up the standings with a 4-1 win over Pachuca. Julián Quiñones scored twice, with Julio Furch and Oziel Herrera putting the other two, as the hosts won for the first time in almost a month. Former LAFC man Cristian "Chicho" Arango scored his second goal for Pachuca.

Chivas took an impressive 2-0 away victory at Leon to potentially decide both teams' fate in the top four (and the direct bye to the quarterfinals). Alexis Vega assisted on the two goals with one being a tremendous long-distance lob on the first goal to Pavel Perez. The second goal was a diagonal ball to cut through the defense and set up "El Oso" Fernando González.

Cruz Azul and Club America faced off in the "Clásico Joven" on the prime slot on Saturday night at the Estadio Azteca. Former LA Galaxy man Uriel Antuna opened the scoring in the 12th minute before USMNT forward Alejandro Zendejas tied it in the 42nd. Michael Estrada was ejected in first-half stoppage time leaving Azul with 10 men for the second half. The floodgates opened in the second half as Zendejas scored a second in the 47th minute. Mexican national team striker Henry Martin scored the third in the 63rd, injuring himself in the process. In the end, it's three points for America who have crept up the standings and are still in play for the top spot.

Antonio Mohamed won his second match in charge of Pumas UNAM against a very good Toluca team. The 3-1 victory puts the Mexico City side inside the top twelve and in position to reach the postseason. The University club will travel to face two of Mohamed's former clubs in Club America and Monterrey, making for a dramatic end to the season.

Queretaro played to a scoreless draw against Tigres UANL in the first of a Sunday evening doubleheader. Santos Laguna shocked Monterrey in the last match of the matchday with a 2-1 victory from the Torreon side.

Unfortunately, there is still violence in the stands during Monterrey matches; seven people were removed this week due to an altercation. The league's FanID identification protocol becomes mandatory starting on Matchday 16.

Here's what else transpired this past weekend and a look to what's ahead: 

Match Results

• San Luis 2, Juarez 0
• Necaxa 1, Puebla 1
• Mazatlan 1, Tijuana 2
• Atlas 4, Pachuca 1
• Leon 0, Guadalajara 2
• Cruz Azul 1, Club America 3
• Pumas UNAM 3, Toluca 1
• Queretaro 0, Tigres UANL 0
• Monterrey 1, Santos Laguna 2

The standings

The top four could be potentially wrapped up after Chivas' win over Leon, but those final positionings are still in question, especially if Monterrey continues dropping points. Santos, San Luis, Atlas and Pumas UNAM all had jumps up the standings and best helped their case for the playoffs. Tigres and Cruz Azul could be in danger of not hosting in the wild-card round if they drop out of the top eight.

Mazatlan are the first team to be eliminated from the postseason race. Queretaro is also out after clinching the last spot in the coefficient table, making them ineligible to participate in the playoffs regardless of where they finish.

1. Monterrey - 34 pts
2. Club America - 30 pts
3. Toluca - 28 pts
4. Guadalajara - 28 pts
5. Leon - 26 pts
6. Pachuca - 25 pts
7. Tigres UANL - 22 pts
8. Cruz Azul - 21 pts
9. Santos Laguna - 19 pts
10. San Luis - 18 pts
11. Atlas - 17 pts
12. Pumas UNAM - 17 pts
13. Queretaro - 17 pts
14. Puebla - 17 pts
15. Tijuana - 15 pts
16. Necaxa - 14 pts
17. Juarez FC - 14 pts
18. Mazatlan - 7 pts

Coefficient table

The bottom three in the coefficient table remain the same for now. Queretaro clinched the final spot after being unable to win against Tigres. Tijuana took a direct victory over Mazatlan and could better its percentage with two games to go. Juarez is the team in danger of dropping down from 15th depending on results.

• 16 - Mazatlan
• 17 - Tijuana
• 18 - Queretaro

Surprise of the week

Santos Laguna came away with a big win as the number one team in the standings. Rogelio Funes Mori scored an excellent goal in the opening stretch in what looked to be another tough result for the visitors.

Juan Brunetta leveled the match in the 23rd minute. Funes Mori then exited the match after two yellow cards. Lucas Gonzalez was red-carded three minutes into stoppage time, making it 10v10 in the second half. 

Goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo and forward Harold Preciado, two of the team's most important players, were pivotal in securing the victory. Preciado converted from the penalty spot four minutes into second-half stoppage time to take the three points on the road.

After winning 11 of 13 to start the season, including a twelve-game undefeated run, Monterrey has now lost two in a row and is in danger of losing their top spot. Santos Laguna broke a three-match winless streak with this result and could host the one-game playoff in the opening round of the postseason.

Goal of the Week

For the result and the quality, the Pavel Perez goal takes this week's honors. It came off a great over-the-top assist from Alexis Vega and was the game-winning goal for Chivas at Leon.

Number of the Week: 28 

Manager Veljko Paunović has matched Matias Almeyda's best seasons in terms of points with 28 and two matchdays still to go. Almeyda's era is considered the gold standard in recent club history for his league title, CCL conquest, two Copa MX titles and one Supercopa MX trophy.

Quote of the Week

Keeping with the Chivas theme, Paunovic was so proud of his squad after the 2-0 result at Leon that he praised them with national team attention. 

"After this performance, I think that all of Chivas has to go to play against the United States," said Pauno at the 5:40 mark of his post-match press conference.

What we’re looking forward to this week

A total of 22 Liga MX players have been called up for the USA vs. Mexico encounter on Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona. Alan Soñora of FC Juarez is the lone U.S. men's national team call-up as Club America did not authorize the release of Alejandro Zendejas.

Twenty-one players will join Mexico alongside now FC Barcelona man Julián Araujo. His former LA Galaxy teammate Efraín Álvarez and Toluca man Iván López were called up in place of injuries to Roberto Alvarado and Henry Martín.

Here are the MX players representing Mexico:

• GK Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
• GK Luis Malagón (Club América)
• GK Antonio Rodríguez (Tijuana)
• D Kevin Álvarez (Pachuca)
• D Néstor Araujo (Club América)
• D Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey)
• D Víctor Guzmán (Monterrey)
• D Israel Reyes (Club América)
• D Gilberto Sepúlveda (Guadalajara)
• M Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)
• M Fernando Beltrán (Guadalajara)
• M Omar Campos (Santos Laguna)
• M Alan Cervantes (Santos Laguna)
• M Luis Chávez (Pachuca)
• M Ozziel Herrera (Atlas)
• M Aldo Rocha (Atlas)
• M Carlos "Charly" Rodríguez (Cruz Azul)
• M Érick Sánchez (Pachuca)
• M Alexis Vega (Guadalajara)
• F Iván López (Pachuca)
• F Roberto de la Rosa (Pachuca)

Wednesday, Apr. 19

• 10 p.m. ET - USA vs. Mexico (TBS / HBO MAX, Telemundo / Peacock)

Jornada 16 will be the penultimate matchday. For that reason, there is playoff implication, especially in terms of seeding. 

Thursday, Apr. 20

• 9 p.m. CT - Tigres UANL vs. Puebla (ViX+)

Friday, Apr. 21

• 8 p.m. CT - Mazatlan vs. Monterrey (ViX+)
• 8 p.m. CT - Necaxa vs. Atlas (TUDN)
• 10 p.m. CT - Tijuana vs. Leon (FS1, FOX Deportes)

Saturday, Apr. 22

• 6 p.m. CT - Pachuca vs. San Luis (Univision, TUDN)
• 8 p.m. CT - Guadalajara vs. Cruz Azul (Telemundo)
• 10 p.m. CT - Club America vs. Pumas UNAM (Univision, TUDN)

Sunday, Apr. 23

• 1 p.m. CT - Toluca vs. FC Juarez (TUDN)
• 8 p.m. CT - Santos Laguna vs. Queretaro (FS2, FOX Deportes)