America got bogged down at the start of the Apertura tournament, failing to get past a sharp 0-0 draw on Thursday at the Querétaro field.
And from the stands, the homophobic cry that has cost Mexican soccer several FIFA sanctions reappeared. The foul word was chanted by American supporters in a pair of last punts by home goalkeeper Washington Aguerre during injury time.
The azulcrema team had veteran winger Miguel Layún, who returned to the institution for this championship after a first stage between 2010 and 2015 in which he was part of the champion teams of the Clausura 2013 and Apertura 2014.
Colombian striker Roger Martínez generated the first clear option for the Eagles after he was unmarked in the heart of the area, where he received a low pass from Argentine Leo Suárez, but his shot went to the side before the first 20 minutes were completed.
Before reaching the break, the Gallos also did not demand goalkeeper Óscar Jiménez, who assumed ownership of the azulcremas by replacing Guillermo Ochoa, one of the reinforcements of the Mexican team that plays the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The hosts had their best move to open the scoring with a quick counterattack in which Uruguayan striker Nicolás Sosa received a long stroke, which left him alone in front of goal, but took a very broken shot in the first bars of the complement.
Sosa was vindicated a little later in a defensive play, in which he managed to deflect the ball when Mauro Laínez was about to convert a goal after a rebound on a corner kick.
The Eagles had a new opportunity to break the equality with a distant shot from Salvador Reyes that crashed into the crossbar as the duel approached its final stretch.
America will seek to improve the poor display it offered on the next day, when it disputed its first match at home, receiving Necaxa, while Querétaro will visit San Luis. (AP)