Liga MX Week 14 Roundup: Chivas triumph in the Clasico Tapatio, Dorados relegated

There was plenty to talk about in Week 14 of Liga MX as one team confirmed its relegation, while plenty others continued their late push for a playoff spot.

One team still not qualified to the Liguilla is Club America. A first half goal from Yerson Candelo saw Queretaro beat Las Aguilas 1-0 at the Estadio Corregidora on Friday night.

The surprise defeat comes a week after Las Aguilas clinched their fifth straight league win, their longest stretch without a defeat this season.

From the end of one run to another as Tigres ended a run of five straight league games without a win by relegating Dorados de Sinaloa with a 5-2 thumping at the Estadio Universitario on Saturday.

Dorados arrived to this game needing a win to have any glimmer of hope of evading relegation, but Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti's side wasted little time to get on the score-sheet when Rafael Sobis tapped home from a Jesus Duenas cross.

The visitors offered an immediate response, though, and Wilson Morelo equalized before Andre-Pierre Gignac blasted a header beyond Luis Michel to regain the lead six minutes later.

Then, with 60 minutes still to play in the game, Severo Meza found himself the subject of a controversial red card. The Dorados defender seemed to have just grazed the opponent's foot, but the referee deemed it necessary to give Meza his marching orders.

As halftime approached, Jurgen Damm found himself with an easy tap-in after a brilliant combination from Rafael Sobis and Israel Jimenez.

Ferretti's team came out flying at the restart and Gignac added another inside the opening three minutes before Jurgen Damm  grabbed his second goal of the game to hand Tigres a 5-1 lead.

In the 66th minute, Jairo Gonzalez sneaked a free-kick past Nahuel Guzman, but the writing was on the wall for Dorados de Sinaloa as they were relegated with three games still to play in the season.

While one team was relegated, another was celebrating their permanence in style. Boosted by knowing they had secured Liga MX permanence for another season following Dorados de Sinaloa's 5-2 defeat to Tigres, Monarcas Morelia maintained their playoff position thanks to a late 1-0 win against third place Pachuca.

Morelia had to wait as late as the 83rd minute to take the lead as Facundo Erpen hit a floating header beyond Oscar "Conejo" Perez from a Rodrigo Millar pass. It was a hard-earned victory after the Morelia defense had kept the scores leveled in the first half with saves from Ruben Botta and Franco Jara.

Finally, the week ended with the much-anticipated Clasico Tapatio between Chivas and Atlas. Jair Pereira's injury time winner proved the difference as Chivas climbed up to a playoff position with a 1-0 win over rivals Atlas.

The Rebaño Sagrado have been in decent form, winning their last three league games, and they followed it up with a bright opening 20 minutes.

But the visitors, after a shaky start where they had minimal possession, gradually grew in confidence and Rodolfo Cota was forced into his first big stop early in the second half.

When the game looked like it was going to end scoreless, Jair Pereira rose above his marker and sneaked home a Raul "Dedos" Lopez corner to earn Chivas an emphatic victory over their city rivals.

Elsewhere, league leaders Monterrey beat Xolos de Tijuana 2-1 at the border. 18-year-old Alexis Vega made a name for himself by grabbing a brace in Toluca's 4-2 win over Veracruz. Santos Laguna edged Cruz Azul with 1-0 victory in Mexico City, while Mauro Boselli netted a hat-trick for Leon in their 4-1 victory against Puebla. Pumas UNAM kept their Liguilla hopes alive with two goals from Eduardo Herrera in their 2-1 win over Chiapas.

Goal of the week: Oscar Rojas

#PorSiNoLoViste G⚽⚽⚽L de Oscar Rojas@TolucaFC 2-0 @ClubTiburones #J14CL2016 #LIGABancomerMX
⚽ #SienteTuLiga ⚽ pic.twitter.com/4Rh0XqbKlw

— LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) April 16, 2016