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Toluca takes early pole position as visitors thrive in Week 2

By Thomas Buckley

TOLUCA, MEXICO - JANUARY 13: Enrique Triverio of Toluca celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal of his team during the 2nd round match between Toluca and Puebla as part of the Torneo Clausura 2019 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
TOLUCA, MEXICO - JANUARY 13: Enrique Triverio of Toluca celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal of his team during the 2nd round match between Toluca and Puebla as part of the Torneo Clausura 2019 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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Toluca nabs top spot after second Liga MX Matchday, a weekend that saw five visiting teams pick up points.

For the third day in a row, the Liga MX has a new leader atop the standings – Toluca – in a Clausura 2019 season that has provided plenty of surprises already.

As a result of its 2-0 home win over Puebla Sunday, Toluca leapfrogged Guadalajara into first place with 6 points from two games. Fullback Santiago García opened the scoring in minute 43 and hard-luck striker Alexis Canelo finally found the back of the net (in minute 81) to secure the victory.

The Chivas also have 6 points, but the Diablos have the better goal differential (+4 to Guadalajara’s +3). Also with 6 points are the upstart Lobos BUAP who held first place alone for all of 24 hours until the Chivas had defeated Cruz Azul. Both the Chivas and Lobos BUAP earned hard-fought 1-0 road wins this weekend.

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Guadalajara stunned last season’s top seed Cruz Azul with a late goal from sub Ronaldo Cisneros to continue manager José Cardozo’s perfect start to the New Year. The Chivas have won both Liga MX matches and their lone Copa MX match thus far. Next up, Guadalajara hosts second division side Cafetaleros of Tapachula (Chiapas) on Tuesday but then gets a visit from Toluca in an early-season battle for first place.

The Lobos came away from their visit to Veracruz with 3 critical points as the game was a direct battle between two relegation-threatened franchises. A nifty goal from Leo Ramos late on (minute 78) lifted the Poblanos to the win. It was Ramos’ second goal in as many games and he and Tigres striker André-Pierre Gignac are the only Liga MX players to score in each of his team’s first two contests.

Three other visiting squads earned points from Matchday 2. América made its long-overdue season debut with a 2-1 victory at Estadio Jalisco, sending Atlas a little closer to the demotion battle. León scored a last-second goal (literally, the final play of the game) to overturn a 2-0 deficit and tie Monterrey, the league’s first-week leader. Finally, the Tigres crushed the Xolos in Tijuana with three second-half goals, sending the border club into last place.

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