GUADALUPE (Interstat) — Monterrey scored twice in the opening 16 minutes and withstood a second-half push from Pachuca for a 2-1 home victory on Sunday at Estadio BBVA. Diego Rossi put the home side ahead in the 13th minute, and Jesus Tecatito Corona doubled the lead in the 16th. Pachuca cut the deficit in the 75th through Salomon Rondon but could not find an equalizer. The result gave Monterrey a home win in the Liga MX match and left Pachuca chasing the game after a difficult start. Monterrey had entered off a 1-1 draw at Club America, while Pachuca had drawn 3-3 at home with Necaxa in its previous match.

Rondon, who played the full 90 minutes, scored Pachuca’s lone goal. Corona had one goal in 78 minutes before being substituted. Rossi had one goal in 72 minutes and was also replaced. Jorge Berlanga provided an assist in 87 minutes before being substituted. Lucas Ocampos recorded an assist and a yellow card in 72 minutes and was substituted. The goals from Rossi and Corona came within three minutes of each other and gave Monterrey control before Pachuca responded after halftime. Berlanga supplied the assist on Rondon’s 75th-minute goal, which made the closing stages tighter, but Monterrey protected the advantage.

Ocampos was booked in the 22nd minute. Pachuca’s Pizarro was shown a yellow card in the 56th. Barreto was booked in the 84th, Moreno in the 85th, Arteaga in the 85th and Torres in the 88th. The match grew more physical late, with four of the six yellow cards issued from the 84th minute onward. Pachuca tried to press for a tying goal while Monterrey worked to close out the result. The late bookings and substitutions slowed the final stretch and forced both teams to manage the closing minutes carefully.

The substitutions began in the 63rd minute when Pachuca made a change involving Isais. Monterrey made substitutions involving Ocampos and Rossi in the 72nd, then brought on Chavez and replaced Corona in the 78th. Pachuca made a substitution involving Vallejo in the 81st, and another involving Berlanga and Pizarro in the 87th. Monterrey made a substitution involving Garza in the 89th. The late changes interrupted the flow of the final minutes as both sides adjusted. Monterrey’s bench moves came after it had taken the lead, while Pachuca’s changes were made as it sought a way back into the match. The final whistle came after a late sequence of bookings and replacements that consumed much of the closing stretch. Monterrey kept its lead after the changes, while Pachuca pushed numbers forward in search of a tying goal.

Pachuca’s recent results included a 3-3 home draw with Necaxa, a 1-0 loss at Santos Laguna and a 2-2 home draw with Club Tijuana. Monterrey’s recent run included a 1-1 draw at Club America, a 2-1 home win over Toluca and a 4-2 loss at Atlante. Both sides entered the match after draws in their previous outings. Pachuca’s upcoming Liga MX schedule includes a home match against Cruz Azul and a road game at Club America, followed by a home match against Tigres UANL and a trip to Atlas. Monterrey is set to visit Puebla and Toluca and host Guadalajara Chivas and Club Tijuana.

Pachuca’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins, 6 losses and 4 draws. Monterrey’s season record in this competition is now 4 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws. Pachuca’s season record across all competitions also stands at 2 wins, 6 losses and 4 draws. Monterrey’s season record across all competitions is now 5 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws. Monterrey next travels to Puebla on Wednesday, while Pachuca hosts Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pachuca 2, Monterrey 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Monterrey with a 62.7 percent probability to win.