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 Jimenez’s fellow Mexico World Cup striker Oribe Peralta scored
two minutes into added time at the Azteca on Saturday to give
America their fifth consecutive win, keeping them top of the
Apertura table with 15 points.
Coach Antonio Mohamed was not entirely happy, though, saying there
were lessons to be learnt from failing to close out the match
earlier.
“I’m happy with the team’s form but what happened today must serve
as a lesson when we thought the match was settled, under control,
and it wasn’t,” the Argentine said.
America were 2-1 up after 56 minutes with goals from Paraguay
defender Pablo Aguilar and Argentine-born midfielder Rubens Sambueza
after an equalizer by Colombian Duvier Riascos.
 Morelia, whose goalkeeper Carlos Rodriguez made a string of fine
saves praised by Mohamed, came back into the match with a second
equalizer from Argentine David Depetris in the 76th minute making
the score 2-2.
“We made the mistake of thinking the match was over with a 2-1 lead
and we didn’t go for 3-1,” Mohamed said.
Club World Cup-bound CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul, on the other
hand, have a finishing problem and were beaten 3-1 at Monterrey
whose Colombian striker Dorlan Pabon scored a hat-trick.
“The team are playing well, except for their finishing, which of
course is important,” said the Blue Machine’s coach Luis Fernando
Tena, whose side have five points.
America’s Mexico City arch-rivals UNAM Pumas are also in
early-season trouble and sacked coach Jose Luis Trejo on Friday
after a fourth successive defeat.
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Pumas, who began the championship with a win, lost 2-1 away to champions
Leon on Thursday and are now two from bottom with three points.
Former Mexico forward David Patino, who played for Pumas from 1986-93,
was named caretaker.
Atlas, the only other unbeaten team, kept pace two points behind America
after a penalty by Paraguayan Luis Caballero gave them a 1-0 win over
promoted UG Leones Negros (black lions).
Argentine forward Dario Benedetto scored twice to give Tijuana a 2-1
home win over Chiapas at the border town’s Caliente stadium.
Guadalajara, with four points from three matches and a game in hand, are
at home to Santos Laguna at the Omnilife on Sunday.
(Additional reporting by Carlos Calvo; Writing by Rex Gowar, editing by
Pritha Sarkar)
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