By MARK LORENZANA

After Club América and the Monterrey Rayados both punched their tickets to the Liga MX semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 15, CF Pachuca and Deportivo Toluca FC followed suit on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 16, to complete the protagonists that will compete for the two finals slots.

Toluca fended off Santos Laguna, 2-1, while Pachuca eliminated the other Monterrey-based team Tigres UANL, 2-1, in the final two quarterfinals matches, to set up a semifinals showdown against powerhouse teams América and Rayados.

América, currently atop the standings, will match up with sixth-placed Toluca on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Nemesio Diez Stadium in the State of Mexico (Edoméx) for the first match, with the second game to be played in Mexico City’s famed Azteca Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Meanwhile, number-two ranked Rayados will go against number four Pachuca, with the first leg of their semifinals series on Thursday, Oct. 20, to be played at the Hidalgo Stadium, and the second leg happening on Sunday, Oct. 23, at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.