MEXICO CITY, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Club America and Cruz Azul reached the semifinals of Mexico's Liga MX Clausura tournament by winning their respective quarterfinal ties on Sunday.

After a goalless draw in the first leg, Club America raced to a 2-0 lead in its home clash against Pachuca courtesy of two goals in the opening half hour from United States international forward Alejandro Zendejas.

The visitors were dealt another blow just before halftime when Morocco international winger Oussama Idrissi was sent off for a second yellow-card offense.

Club America was in cruise control for most of the second half as it kept alive its bid for a fourth straight Mexican top-flight title.

"We were consistent and clinical, which is exactly how I want us to be," America manager Andre Jardine told a post-match news conference.

"Whoever we come up against in the semifinals, we have to be prepared. We don't feel like we are the favorites. The teams that have made it this far have done so on merit, and we know we have to be at our best to beat them."

Meanwhile, Cruz Azul edged to a 2-1 home victory over Leon to prevail in its quarterfinal 5-3 on aggregate.

Ignacio Rivero put the hosts ahead from close range, but Jhonder Cadiz equalized with a composed finish on the counterattack.

Chilean midfielder Rodrigo Echeverria gifted Cruz Azul the lead when he slid the ball into his own net while attempting to cut out a dangerous Amaury Morales cross from the right wing. ■