Nico Castillo, Andres Ibarguen help Club America defeat Chivas Guadalajara in Clasico Nacional

Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images

---

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- A goal in each half sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory for Club America over Chivas Guadalajara in Mexico's Clasico Nacional in front of 41,169 fans inside Estadio Akron.

Chilean international Nico Castillo opened the scoring in the third minute with a diving header, with Andres Ibarguen adding the second in the 50th in Liga MX's most important regular season game.

The victory was America's second over Chivas in four days, with Las Aguilas winning last Wednesday's Copa MX quarterfinal 2-0 in Estadio Azteca to complete a dismal week for the Guadalajara side. Chivas coach Jose Cardozo's job could be on the line, with the team picking up only one point from its last four league games.

Chivas had gone down to 10 players when Jesus Molina was sent off for a late challenge on Jesus Molina eight minutes before half-time and had to substitute striker Alan Pulido due to injury just after.

But the home didn't manage a shot on target until the 85th minute in a game controlled by the away side, even before Molina's red card. The margin of victory could've been wider, with America spawning chances in the second half with the player advantage.

The three points take America up to fourth position in the Liga MX table, with 19 points from 11 games of the 2019 Apertura. Chivas are outside the playoff spots, four points behind their rival, with six rounds of matches remaining in the regular season.