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MEXICO CITY, Jan 14 (Reuters) – América, the most winning club in Mexican soccer with 13 titles, drew 2-2 as a visitor to Toluca on Saturday in the second day of the Clausura tournament.
The Uruguayan Brian Rodríguez and Henry Martín scored the equalizing goals for the “Águilas” of America, after the Paraguayan Carlos González and Carlos Orrantia had advanced the “Red Devils” of Toluca.
“I am calm because I have a group of players who understand the shirt they wear at the institution, they know that wherever we are going to play we are going to look for victory, it is a big club that always tries to find the rival goal. In general terms I liked it the team”, said the technical director of América, the Argentine Fernando Ortiz.
“From the first game (of the tournament) to today’s game we have improved a lot, although we always try to get a victory, we got a draw and I think it was very meritorious for both teams,” he added.
In a match played at the Nemesio Diez de Toluca stadium, the home team took the lead after eight minutes when González scored in the six-yard box after goalkeeper Óscar Jiménez parried a powerful shot from Marcel Ruiz.
América equalized after 16 minutes with a powerful shot from Rodríguez sending the ball between the legs of Brazilian goalkeeper Tiago Volpi.
Toluca regained the lead after 23 minutes with an attractive volley shot from Orrantia after a cross from the Uruguayan Maximiliano Araujo from the left sector.
The “Águilas” of América tied at minute 76 with a penalty kick scored by Martín.
“America never gives up and is always going to look for victory, but we’re going easy, I think we took a big step in the group, we gave a great game and we’re happy to have taken a point. We’re on the right track, this is starting, not having come away with a defeat is something very important”, said Henry Martín after the game.
In other matches on Saturday, the Bravos de Ciudad Juárez thrashed Tijuana 3-0 with goals from Jesús Dueñas and a brace from Paraguayan Darío Lezcano.
Monterrey beat Cruz Azul 3-2 as a visitor with two goals from Argentine Germán Berterame and another from Rogelio Funes Mori. Uriel Antuna and Berterame scored for Cruz Azul’s “Máquina Celeste” in their own goal.
Meanwhile, Santos Laguna defeated Pumas UNAM 3-0 with a double by Diego Medina and the same by Colombian Harold Preciado.
The day will continue on Sunday when the champion Pachuca visits Tigres UANL, and a day later it will be completed with the match between León and Necaxa.
On Friday, Puebla beat Querétaro 2-0, while Atlético de San Luis and Guadalajara drew 0-0.
At the beginning of the day, Atlas won Mazatlán 2-1 on Thursday. (Reporting by Carlos Calvo Pacheco)
