© Reuters 2002

MEXICO CITY, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Paraguay striker Jose Cardozo continued his record-breaking season in Mexico by scoring four more goals in Toluca's 5-1 win over Pachuca at the weekend.

Cardozo, whose tally is already the highest since the system of two championships a year was introduced in the mid-1990s, has hit 25 goals in 16 games, six better than the previous record held by Uruguayan Sebastian Abreu.

He also gave Wilson Graneolati a winning debut as coach after the Uruguayan took over from Ricardo Lavolpe, who has left to coach the Mexican national team.

Cardozo opened his account after half an hour, converted a 44th-minute penalty and was on target twice in a six-minute spell in the second half. An own goal by Israel Velazquez completed Toluca's haul and Honduran striker Milton Nunez scored Pachuca's consolation.

Toluca and America, who were held 0-0 by Chiapas after a glaring late miss by striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, have already qualified from group one for the quarter-finals.

UNAM, coached by former Real Madrid and Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez, need only one more point to qualify from group two following a 1-0 win over Santos Laguna with a 47th minute goal by Uruguayan Alvaro Gonzalez.

They lead group two ahead of UAG, who lost 2-0 at Queretaro, and Daniel Passarella's Monterrey, beaten 2-0 at home by group three leaders Guadalajara.

The former Argentina coach's team were sunk by a goal in each half from Ramon Morales and Emilio Mora. Guadalajara field only Mexican players.

Group four leaders Morelia hammered Necaxa 6-0 with Adolfo Bautista scoring twice and Argentine Dario Franco, Brazilian Alex Fernandes, Ismael Iniguez and Javier Lozano sharing the other goals.
(C) Reuters Limited 2002.