Liga MX Clausura Play-In: Pachuca fight back to qualify for the playoffs; 10 man Pumas win on penalties. | OneFootball

Liga MX Clausura turned towards the playoffs this past weekend as four teams compete in the play-in competition to decide the final two spots in the postseason. To secure a spot in the next round, Monterrey hosted Pachuca, whilst Pumas flew to Juárez to keep their Liguilla dreams alive.

Monterrey 1-2 Pachuca

The Apertura runners-up underperformed during the Clausura regular season and find themselves fighting for survival in the play-in. Martín Demichelis' Rayados looked back on track when German Berterame got on the end of a perfectly timed cross from Jesús Corona to give the hosts an early lead in the second half.

As the tie was coming to an end, Pachuca stepped up and got themselves back into the game as Eduardo Bauermann levelled the game with eight minutes left on the clock, but they would complete the comeback five minutes after equalising when tallisman Salomón Rondón was on hand to score a tenth goal since the turn of the year.

Two goals in the final eight minutes of the game mean that Pachuca will qualify as the seventh seed in this season's Liga MX Clausura and will meet second seed Club América in the next round.

Juárez 1 (1) - (2) 1 Pumas

Juárez and Pumas knew that everything was on the line when the sides met on the border, with one team set to bow out of the Clausura.

The game was delayed due to treacherous conditions, but kick-off finally got underway an hour later than expected. Under the fogey setting, Pumas got off to a flyer when Guillermo Martínez raced through on goal and slotted the visitors into the lead. Shortly after, Los Bravos brought the game level when Madson tied the game just four minutes after the opening goal.

With ten minutes left in the first half, Martínez went from hero to villain when a reckless challenge meant Pumas would play the remainder of the game with a man less.

Nonetheless, Juárez was unable to take advantage of the red card as the game went all the through to penalties to decide the winner.

Saving Pumas' blushes was loanee Alex Padilla who saved two spot kicks in what was an abysmal shootout from both sides to keep Los Universitarios dreams alive.

The result means that Pumas will meet Monterrey on Sunday 4th May at the Estadio BBVA to decide which side will take the eighth seed and take on Clausura regular season winners Toluca in the next round.