America wins first match without Cabanas

Posted Monday, February 01, 2010 by AP

MEXICO CITY (AP)—Playing for the first time since the shooting of its star striker Salvador Cabanas, Club America defeated lowly Ciudad Juarez 1-0 Sunday in the third round of the Mexican Clausura tournament.

Cabanas, the star striker for Paraguay’s national team and Club America, was shot in the head at point-blank range a week ago at a Mexico City bar. On Sunday doctors treating him said he’d begun to take food by mouth and was speaking with family members, a hopeful sign in his recovery.

Enrique Esqued scored for America on a right-footed strike off a cross from Argentine midfielder Daniel Montenegro.

After scoring, the 21-year-old striker raced to the end of the field, lifted his right sleeve and kissed his shoulder, the same routine used by Cabanas when he scores.

Chivas leads the Mexican league at 3-0 after Javier Hernandez netted two goals in a 3-2 win over Estudiantes on Saturday. Chivas trailed 2-0 until Alberto Medina made it 2-1 in the 78th. Hernandez scored the equalizer in the 80th and the winner five minutes later.

It’s Chivas’ first 3-0 start since ’99.

Queretaro moved into second place with seven points following a 2-1 win over Puebla on Sunday.

In other weekend results: Monterrey 2, Cruz Azul 0; Pachuca 5, Atlante 1; Jaguares 2, Tigres 2; San Luis 0, Morelia 2; Pumas 0, Toluca 0; Santos 1, Atlas 2.

In Argentina, Ismael Sosa scored an injury-time equalizer Sunday as Argentinos Juniors twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Boca Juniors in first-round play in Argentina’s Clausura tournament.

In the day’s other matches, Sebastian Fernandez scored as defending champion Banfield won 1-0 at River Plate. Gonzalo Castillejos hit a late winner to give Lanus a 3-2 home victory over Huracan, and Newell’s Old Boys drew 0-0 at home with Independiente.

Sosa scored Argentinos equalizer in the third minute of injury time after Juan Ramon Riquelme gave Boca a 2-1 lead in the 85th.

Boca took a 1-0 lead in the 45th on Martin Palermo’s goal, but Argentinos Juniors leveled on an own-goal in the 82nd.

In other results from the weekend’s first round, it was: Godoy Cruz 1, Gimnasia La Plata 0; Estudiantes La Plata 3, Arsenal de Sarandi 0; Tigre 0, Chacarita Juniors 2; Velez Sarsfield 1, Colon de Santa Fe 1; Racing Club 3, Rosario Central 0; Atletico Tucuman 0, San Lorenzo 1.

In Brazil, Adriano scored three goals Sunday to lead Flamengo 5-3 over rival Fluminense in the Rio de Janeiro state championship. Flamengo leads with 15 points and Fluminense is No. 2 with 12.

In other weekend matches in the Rio championship: Americano 1, Volta Redonda 3; Resende 4, Tigres 2; Botafogo 2, America 1; Bangu 3, Duque de Caxias 0; Boavista 3, Olaria 0; Macae 1, Madureira 2; Friburguense 0, Vasco 3.

In the Sao Paulo state championship, Corinthians went top with a 1-0 win over Palmeiras, the first victory over their local rival in three years. Jorge Henrique scored in the 6th. Former Brazil international leftback Roberto Carlos was sent off in the 8th following a hard tackle.

Roberto Carlos, 36, moved to Corinthians just weeks ago from Turkey club Fenerbache.

Corinthians lead the Sao Paulo championship with 11 points, one ahead of Santos and Botafogo.

In other weekend games in Sao Paulo: Barueri 3, Rio Claro 2; Santos 2, Oeste 0; Sao Caetano 2, Monte Azul 2; Mogi Mirim 1, Bragantino 1; Corinthians 1, Palmeiras 0; Portuguesa 1, Botafogo-SP 2; Rio Branco 1, Ponte Preta 2; Sertaozinho 2, Sao Paulo 2; Paulista 0, Mirassol 2; Ituano 1, Santo Andre 2.

The Brazil league, which opens later this spring, is preceded by regional state championships. The two traditional championships are in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.