LEON, Mexico -- Aldo Rocha netted the equalizer as Leon drew 1-1 at home to Pachuca in the Clausura 2016 semifinal first leg Thursday at Estadio Leon.
Mexico international Hirving Lozano opened the scoring in the 12th minute after a sublime finish from the edge of the area. The left-winger latched onto a pass from Erick Gutierrez, took a touch and stroked the ball past William Yarbrough.
Leon's equalizer came in the 23rd, when Mauro Boselli exchanged passes to send Rocha through on goal. The defensive midfielder dug out a smart left-foot finish into the roof of the net.
Argentine center-back Diego Novaretti had a couple of headers from set pieces in the first half that failed to hit the target.
Following a fairly even first half, Leon shaded the second, with Boselli putting a header over from close range in the 62nd and Luis Montes forcing a flying save from Oscar "Conejo" Perez four minutes later.
But it wasn't all one-way traffic. Colombian center-back Oscar Murillo saw a glancing header go just wide in the 71st minute, while U.S. International Yarbrough made a good save from Gutierrez, who was through on goal in the 72nd.
The second leg will take place in Estadio Hidalgo on Sunday (9 p.m. ET), with away goals counting. If the aggregate score and away goals are level after 180 minutes, Pachuca would go through due to its higher finishing position in the regular season.
In the other semi, Club America has a marginal advantage over Monterrey going into Saturday's second leg, following Las Aguilas 1-0 victory on Wednesday in Estadio Azteca.