This will be a weekend that nobody in Mexico will forget. First, the First Division and Division A scheduled games were played behind closed doors as the strain of swine flu obligated the league to play again without fans.
Also, Week 16 will be remembered because Ciudad Juarez Indios reached salvation from relegation. The team from near the border defeated 1-0 Cruz Azul as Javier Saavedras' solo goal (87') gave Hector Hugo Eugui's side satisfaction.
Indios took advantage of the lousy level of play that Cruz Azul has shown at Clausura 2009 and in a last gasp opportunity, Saavedra shot between the legs of goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco.
Necaxa and Tigres are in the middle of a personal fight. Both squads are in the bottom of the 'percent' table and only one point gives either team a tiny difference. If Tigres win next weekend versus Morelia they will be safe.
Meanwhile, Necaxa will be playing against their 'brother' America (both teams belong to Televisa) and all of the sports media will question if Águilas will give a present of three points to their little brother.
Necaxa did not improve against Atlante and only drew 1-1 at Aguascalientes Stadium. Rafael Marquez Lugo opened the game for Potros de Hierro (24') but Argentinean Alfredo Moreno (54') put Hidro Rayos back into the battle.
Toluca and Pachuca remain the more solid teams in Mexico. Diablos Rojos smashed Tigres 4-1 at La Bombonera stadium in a cold atmosphere without a single fan inside. Hector Mancilla scored a hat trick (50', 71' and 75'), but failed to convert a penalty kick (34') and Israel Lopez made the only goal (23') for Toluca.
"Kikin" Fonseca (54'), who found the net for the visitors, made a terrific goal. Tigres manager Jose Nestor Pekerman knows his squad will need to recuperate quickly because the final 90 minutes against Morelia will determine their future.
Tuzos destroyed Chiapas 5-1 and will look like a serious opponent for any team in Liguilla. Gabriel Caballero, who was celebrating his 500th game in First Division, opened the scoring (34'). Paraguayan Edgar Benítez made two goals (43' and 47') and celebrated ecstatically since he had not score since Week One.
Adolfo Bautista (75'), former Pachuca player, put the ball in the net, but Pachuca battled back to beat Jaguares goalkeeper Edgar Hernandez with two second-half goals: Ulises Mendivil (82') and Damian Alvarez (90').
Americas' Salvador Cabañas found his magnificent ability as a shooter and scored twice to finally defeat Monterrey 3-2 at Tecnologico Stadium. Aldo De Nigris (6') and Humberto Suazo (32) for Rayados and Ismael Rodriguez for America transformed a 2-1 outcome that appeared difficult to Jesús Ramírez's team.
'Chava' began an excellent play, juking Jose Maria Basanta and Diego Ordaz to bite the dust and feeding Christian Martinez to get the partial 2-2 draw. As the game concluded, Cabañas (92') headed the ball and walked away to Mexico City with three points in his pocket.
Next week, versus 'brother' Necaxa, America will try to enter Liguilla. If the team fails, Águilas will claim his second consecutive year without playing the final rounds.
In other results, Pumas fell 2-0 to Tecos, Morelia damaged Atlas 4-2 including Miguel Sabah's hat trick, Chivas and Puebla tied 0-0 and Santos defeated San Luis 3-1.
