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America oust Tigres, Monterrey beat Santos to ensure all Liga MX top seeds eliminated

Club America overturned a first leg loss and defeated Tigres 4-2 in Estadio Universitario on Sunday to book its place in the semifinals of the Liga MX's 2019 Apertura.

Las Aguilas had lost 2-1 in the first leg in Estadio Azteca, but Liga MX's most successful club produced a memorable performance and will head into the semis as the favorites for the title.

In the other quarterfinal on Sunday, Monterrey drew 1-1 against Santos Laguna to advance 6-3 on aggregate.

The quarterfinal results mean all the top four seeds exited at the quarterfinal stage of the liguilla, with fifth-placed Necaxa facing eighth-placed Monterrey and sixth-seed America up against Morelia.

America coach Miguel Herrera had promised before the series that America would win the title, which looked in severe doubt after the first leg, but Las Aguilas stormed to a 3-0 lead at half-time to leave the aggregate score at 4-2 overall.

Federico Vinas handed America the lead in the 21st minute from a headed goal, with Guido Rodriguez extending the advantage 10 minutes later. Giovani dos Santos added the third just before half-time.

Tigres looked shell-shocked and needed three goals to go through, but the team responded with Javier Aquino pulling one back in the 57th and French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac volleyed in to lead Tigres only needing one with 20 minutes to go.

But with Tigres starting to tire, substitute Carlos Salcedo shoved America's Roger Martinez inside the box and gave away a penalty, which Emanuel Aguilera scored.

In Sunday's other quarterfinal second leg, Vincent Janssen netted the equalizer for Monterrey in the 57th as Rayados eased into the semifinals.

Santos Laguna fell 5-2 in the first leg, but started brightly and got the opener through Brian Lozano after 20 minutes.

The home side continued to pressurize for more goals, but Janssen's tap-in from a counterattack ended Santos Laguna's chances.

The semifinal first legs will likely be played on Wednesday and/or Thursday this week, with the return legs next weekend.