Match recap: Club Santos 3, Querétaro FC 0

Sometimes you need some luck to win, other times you’re just better than your opponent. Club Santos was a bit of both, besting Querétaro FC 3-0 in the final match of Week 14. Jonathan Rodríguez got a brace as a sub and Djaniny Tavares scored his thirteenth goal of the season in the win.

The first 15 minutes saw both sides really feeling each other out, with neither side able to get a good chance on goal. The first good chance came in the 20th minute when Yerson Candelo was able to dance through the Santos defense and put a shot on goal Jona Orozco got a touch on it before the ball hit off of the far post and out.

Querétaro did well to isolate Djaniny Tavares early and push him wide, thus limiting the number of good looks he had on goal. Santos also did well defensively, getting men back to ensure the potent offense of Los Gallos Blancos couldn’t get numbers back very often.

In the 33rd minute Diego De Buen hit a laser from long distance that was headed for the top corner, but Querétaro goalkeeper Tiago Volpi was able to make a solid stop on the shot. In the 39th minute, Edson Puch was sprung on a break by a fantastic ball by Edgar Benítez, but his shot was hurried and went well over Jona Orozco’s goal.

As the first half wore on, Santos began to look more comfortable on the ball. Djaniny was able to pressure Tiago Volpi into making poor passes or clearances out of the back, and Santos was able to get a couple of decent chances off of set pieces. As the half ended, De Buen hit another long distance shot through traffic that Tiago Volpi was able to smother and clutch to his chest.

Santos started the second half with momentum, getting the better of the chances. In the 47th minute Jorge Villafaña hit a good cross into the box for Djaniny, but Tiago Volpi was able to make the save. In the 60th minute, Djaniny hit a shot that whistled just wide of the far post. Tavares had another decent look at the 74th minute with a toe poke from the left that Tiago Volpi was able to stop.

Los Guerreros would finally capitalize in the 76th minute when Jesús Isijara chased down a ball on the right side of the goal. Just before the ball went out over the end line, Isijara hit a pass in toward the center of the box. Tiago Volpi made a diving, sprawling stop on the ball but Jonathan Rodríguez was there to corral the ball and tap it in.

Minutes later, Alexis Sánchez would go in high and hard on Jona Rodríguez in the box and Santos would get the penalty call from referee Fernando Ramírez. Djaniny stepped up and hit the ball low and hard, netting his thirteenth goal in fourteen games this season and giving Santos the 2-0 lead.

In the 84th minute, Querétaro almost drew one back. A Puch shot clattered off of the post past a diving Jona Orozco. The rebound fell to Jaime Gómez, who hit a shot on goal but Orozco managed to get back to his feet and make the save to preserve the clean sheet.

Querétaro would press, however this would backfire in the 88th minute when a turnover created a three-on-two situation for Santos. Jona Rodríguez swing the ball to the right for Lozano, who drew his defender as Rodríguez slowed down to trail the play. Lozano cut it back to Jona and Tiago Volpi had no shot at making the save.

Santos will head to Pachuca to face Los Tuzos on Saturday, while Querétaro will head to Guadalajara to face Atlas on Friday night.

Club Santos: Jonathan Orozco; Jorge Villafana, Gerardo Alcoba, Carlos Izquierdoz, José Abella; Brian Lozano, José Juan Vazquez, Diego De Buen, Jesús Isijara (Ulises Rivas, 87’); Julio Furch (Jonathan Rodríguez, 46’), Djaniny Tavares (Edwin Cetré, 90+3’)

Querétaro FC: Tiago Volpi; Alexis Pérez, Diego Novaretti, Hiram Mier, George Corral; Edgar Benítez (Jordi Cortizo, 81’), Javier Güémez, Jaime Gómez, Yerson Candelo; Edson Puch, Everaldo Sturm (Matías Britos, 81’)

Scoring: Club Santos - Jonathan Rodríguez (75’, 88’), Djaniny Tavares (80’ - penalty); Querétaro FC - None

Disciplinary: Club Santos - Jonathan Rodríguez (Yellow - 90’); Querétaro FC - Jaime Gómez (Yellow - 34’), Alexis Pérez (Yellow - 49’)