Enner Valencia netted in the 8th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Pachuca over Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Liguilla quarterfinals. The narrow win gives Pachuca a slight edge heading into the return match. Other quarterfinal first legs produced high-scoring draws and wins for Tigres and Cruz Azul.
The Liga MX Liguilla quarterfinals kicked off with four gripping first-leg matches. In Toluca, Pachuca claimed a 1-0 road win thanks to Enner Valencia's early strike in the 8th minute. Toluca's key forward Paulinho started on the bench, while Pachuca's Elias Montiel delivered a standout performance in midfield, according to match reports from SvenskaFans journalist Ossian Lindstrom. The result leaves Pachuca in control ahead of the second leg at home. Tigres hosted Chivas in Monterrey and prevailed 3-1. Ricardo Marin opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Jesus Angulo equalized just before halftime, but Juan Brunetta and Diego Sanchez quickly restored Tigres' lead early in the second half. Tigres defender Francisco Reyes anchored a solid backline against a depleted Chivas side missing several players due to injuries, including forward Armando Gonzalez. Atlas fell 2-3 at home to Cruz Azul in a thriller. Carlos Rotondi and Christian Ebere put Cruz Azul ahead before halftime, with Arturo Gonzalez and Aldo Rocha leveling for Atlas. Ebere sealed the win with a penalty in the 87th minute. Meanwhile, America and Pumas fought to a 3-3 draw, with goals from Juninho, Uriel Antuna, and Jordan Carrillo for Pumas, matched by Isaias Violante, Henry Martin, and Alejandro Zendejas for America. America defender Cristian Borja suffered an injury before halftime. These results set the stage for tense return legs, with Pachuca holding the slimmest margin.
