America continues domination in Mexican league

MEXICO CITY (AP) Reigning champion America continued its domination of Mexico's first division with a 1-0 win over Veracruz on the weekend.

Argentine Rubens Sambueza curled a left-foot free kick into the top right corner in the 55th minute to hand America a victory which gave the club a three-point buffer to second-place Leon, which lost 1-0 to Cruz Azul on Saturday.

Mariano Pavone scored the winner for Cruz Azul in the 62nd minute when he rounded goalkeeper William Yarbrough.

In other weekend matches, Chivas had a 1-1 draw with Atlas, Toluca thrashed Atlante 7-1, Santos Laguna defeated Morelia 3-1, Pumas had a 1-0 win over Monterrey, Puebla secured a 2-0 victory over Tijuana, Chiapas overcame Pachuca 2-1 and Tigres scored two late goals to grab a 2-2 draw with Queretaro.

In the Guadalajara derby, Facundo Erpen headed in Atlas' goal in the 19th but Mexico international Marco Fabian scored the equalizer for Chivas five minutes from full time.

Pablo Velazquez and Raul Nava both scored twice for Toluca, with Atlante finishing the game with nine players.

Atlante's Luis Gerardo Venegas and Toluca's Carlos Rodriguez were sent off following a scuffle in the 32nd, and Atlante's Paul Uscanga picked up his second yellow card in second half injury time.

Paulo da Silva, Isaac Brizuela and Wilson Mathias got Toluca's other goals, with Ezequiel Miralles netting Atlante's only goal in the 47th.

The victory moved Toluca into third position.

Santos Laguna came from behind on Friday after Jose Maria Cardenas tapped in to give Morelia the lead in the 6th.

Rodolfo Salinas equalized four minutes later with a volley from the edge of the penalty box, with Oribe Peralta and Darwin Quintero adding the others before halftime.

Santos held on to the two-goal cushion despite playing the second half with 10 men after Mauro Cejas was sent off in first half injury time.

Pumas recorded their first win of the season and moved up from last place in the league, with former Liverpool player Luis Garcia pouncing in the 81st against Monterrey.