GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Club America secured a 2-1 victory over Chivas on Sunday in a frantic Clasico Nacional in front of 44,716 in Estadio Chivas.
Darwin Quintero and Oribe Peralta scored second half goals to put America 2-0 up in Mexico's biggest game. But Carlos Pena pulled one back in the 73th, setting up a grandstand finish in which Chivas peppered the America goal, but couldn't find the equalizer.
Both teams ended the match with 10 players, as Chivas' Carlos Cisneros and America's Paolo Goltz were both sent off with the score at 2-0.
Sunday's result leaves Club America in fourth place in the Clausura 2016 table, with Chivas in 14th. There are seven rounds of regular season matches left.
Quintero opened the scoring four minutes after halftime with a vicious strike into the top corner from inside the penalty area.
Peralta then extended America's lead in the 60th minute, heading in from close range after Rubens Sambueza wriggled past Raul Lopez and lofted a cross right to him.
After Cisneros was sent off one minute later -- just as it appeared America would toy with Chivas and inflict more pain -- Goltz reacted and got himself sent off.
Chivas saw an opportunity and pushed forward, pulling a goal back in the 73rd minute through substitute Carlos "Gullit" Pena.
The home side pushed for a winner and dominated the last part of the match, with Miguel Samudio reacting quickly on the goal-line to deflect Carlos Salcido's header wide with minutes remaining.
The nearest either team came to a goal in the first half was Isaac Brizuela's strike in the 16th minute, which went into the goal but was disallowed for offside. Even slow-motion replays left it in some doubt whether the goal should've stood.
Club America has been the more successful of Mexico's "big two" of late, winning two championships in the last three years, while Chivas' poor form has dragged them into a relegation fight.