America survives UNAM test

Dec 1, 2014 - 3:55 AM Mexico City, Mexico (SportsNetwork.com) - America was able to advance to the semifinals in the Liga MX playoffs after Paolo Goltz scored in the 75th minute to lift the club to a 1-0 win over UNAM in the second leg of the quarterfinal matchup.

After finishing as the top seed in Liga MX, America suffered a 1-0 defeat at UNAM in the first leg, with the second-leg result leaving the two sides level on aggregate at 1-1.

However, America goes through to the next round based on the fact that they finished with more points in the regular season.

The hosts still needed a goal as the second leg reached the final 20 minutes, and they nearly got one from Miguel Layun, who narrowly missed the right post after being played into a good position by Rubens Sambueza.

But just two minutes later, America made the most of a corner kick as Gonzalo Diaz drove the cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Goltz turned a header past goalkeeper Alfredo Saldivar.

Monterrey was able to rally for a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlas after notching a 2-0 victory on the road in the second leg.

Things didn't look good for Monterrey after the club lost 1-0 at home in the first leg, but Dorlan Pabon converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute to put Monterrey in front, and Candido Montes fired home the deciding goal 20 minutes from time.

Tigres and Toluca also benefited from their superior position in the league table to advance to the semifinals as the two sides finished 2-2 on aggregate against Pachuca and Jaguares respectively.

Pachuca took the lead in the second leg after 23 minutes thanks to a goal from Ariel Nahuelpan, but Tigres knotted the aggregate score and the match for good in the 38th with a goal on the rebound from Hugo Castro.

Pablo Cesar Velazquez handed Toluca a 1-0 lead in the second leg after 15 minutes, but his opener was canceled out by Diego De la Torre six minutes later.

Fortunately for Toluca, the club finished one point above Jaguares in the regular season, allowing the side to advance.