Argentine goals put America in command

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Argentine pair Claudio Lopez and Matias Vuoso scored in the first 20 minutes to help America to a 3-1 away win over Atlas in the first leg of their Mexican championship quarter-final on Thursday. Lopez drilled in the first goal from close range after five minutes and Vuoso rifled in the second from the edge of the penalty area 14 minutes later, both from passes provided by Juan Carlos Mosqueda. Veteran German Villa added a third in the 58th minute before Atlas staged a fightback. Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega had a penalty saved by Guillermo Ochoa and then headed against the crossbar before Rafael Murguia finally hit the target for the Guadalajara-based teams. Toluca, knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana by Colo Colo on Tuesday, recovered to hold on for a goalless draw away to Monterrey in Thursday's other match, despite fielding several reserves. Monterrey dominated the game and were closest when Uruguayan striker Sebastian Abreu headed against the post in the 80th minute. Guadalajara, the country's most popular club and the only one not to field foreigners, kicked off the quarter-finals by beating Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday with second-half goals by Omar Bravo and Adolfo Bautista. Defending champions Pachuca host UNAM in the other tie on Friday evening.