Match recap: Club Santos Laguna 4, Club América 1

Match Recap

Club América went into tonight’s match as favorites to win the series with Santos Laguna, if not the first leg in Torreón. After the match, Santos are the clear favorite to win the Liguilla and people are openly questioning if heads should roll in Mexico City

América started the match well in possession, earning two free kicks deep within the first three minutes. On the second, América center back Bruno Valdez was able to get a head on it and direct it goalward, but it skimmed the top of the bar.

Shortly after, Santos was able to retain possession and move the ball around. América was up to the challenge however and did not allow the hosts to get anywhere near the 18 yard box. América for their part seemed content to sit back and look to hit Santos on the counterattack.

In the 10th minute, Santos was able to get their first shot on goal when Djaniny Tavares was sprung on a through ball down the center-left side of the pitch. Tavares cut in toward center and got a shot off, but he was well defended and the shot went straight to goalkeeper Agustin Marchesín.

Minutes later, Djaniny and Julio Furch would get in on the América defense with Djaniny in the center and Furch out to the center-right. Djaniny drew the coverage and did a little flick pass to Furch, but he was also well defended and his shot went high.

Santos would break through however in the 15th minute when Djaniny was in deep and did the same little flick pass that he had sent to Furch minutes before, this time to Osvaldo “Osvaldito” Martínez. Osvaldito hit it perfectly and Marchesín was unable to stop the blast.

In the 22nd minute, América was on a break down field and Jérémy Ménez saw that Jonathan Orozco was well off his line and cheating right so he ripped a shot toward the left side of the net. His shot missed wide however and Santos would retain the lead.

In the 26th minute, Djaniny was on the receiving end of a fantastic cross in from the left and headed the ball in past Marchesín. Djaniny was however ruled to have been offside and the goal was annulled.

In the 31st minute, América would equalize when Renato Ibarra hit a fantastic cross from right to left to the waiting Cecilio Domínguez, who hit it true. Jona Orozco had no chance to stop the shot.

The lead wouldn’t last long. In the 38th minute, Furch hit a long range bomb that seemingly caught Marchesín off guard and sent in to give the hosts the lead back.

In the 42nd minute, Matheus and Carlos Izquierdoz were racing down the line with Matheus going in on goal. Izquierdoz made contact with Matheus, the players got tangled up, and then went down.

After a few seconds, referee César Ramos blew his whistle and indicated it was a penalty. Ménez stood at the spot and shot, but Jona Orozco made a solid save much to the delight of the crowd.

As time expired going into the half, Djaniny had another header in the box on goal. This time however Marchesín was able to make a fantastic save to keep things at 2-1 as the clubs went into the locker room.

The second half started out in a much more measured fashion, however it wasn’t totally wanting for chances. In the 49th minute, Oribe Peralta was left all alone in the box and hot his head onto a cross. Jona Orozco had played it perfectly however and was able to swat it down before it the ball was kicked out of bounds and to safety.

In the 54th minute, Furch would double his total on the evening when he got on the end of a pass while in deep. He stopped and fired past the defender, beating Marchesín to put Santos up 3-1.

In the 64th minute, Domínguez almost had his second goal of the evening but his shot went into the side netting of Jona Orozco’s goal. Two minutes later, Santos’ Brian Lozano hit a right-footed shot that Marchesín made a fantastic diving save on.

Santos wasn’t done though. In the 79th minute, a defensive breakdown by Las Águilas resulted in a breakaway by Edwin Cetré. Alone one on one with Marchesín, Cetré unloaded a rocket that beat the outstretched arm of Marchesín and gave the hosts a 4-1 lead.

América tried running at the Santos defense, but even with Izquierdoz on a yellow card the hosts stood their ground and were able to snuff out the Aguilas’ attacking chances. Anything that happened to make it past the back four wound up being easy pickings for Jona Ororzco.

Santos almost tacked on another on a free kick when someone in the mixer got his head on the ball and put it on goal. Marchesín was there however to swat it away.

As time expired in Torreón, the crowd was chanting for a fifth goal but it would not come. The clubs will head to Mexico City for the return match on Sunday with Santos possessing a commanding 4-1 lead.

Match: Santos Laguna vs. Club América

Date: Thursday, May 10

Time: 8:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Central, 5:30 PM Pacific, 12:30 UTC

Venue: Estadio Corona TSM (Torreón, Coah.)

Television: United States - Univision Deportes Network; Mexico - ESPN Play Norte, Azteca 7, ESPN2 Norte

Streaming: Fanatiz, fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Sling (Free trial + monthly subscription), Univision NOW, Facebook Live

Referees: REF: César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos, AR1: Marvin Cesar Torrentera Rivera, AR2: Miguel Ángel Hernández Paredes, 4TH: Oscar Macías Romo

Lineups

Santos Laguna: Jonathan Orozco; Jesús Angulo, Gerardo Alcoba, Carlos Izquierdoz, José Abella; Brian Lozano, José Juan Vázquez, Osvaldo Martínez (Diego De Buen, 85’), Javier Cortés (Jesús Isijara, 67’); Julio Furch, Djaniny Tavares (Edwin Cetré, 75’)

Club América: Agustin Marchesín; Carlos Vargas, Bruno Valdez, Edson Álvarez (Henry Martín, 82’), Paul Aguilar; Guido Rodríguez, Matheus Uribe, Cecilio Domínguez, Jérémy Ménez, Renata Ibarra (Andrés Ibargüen, 75’); Oribe Peralta

Scoring: Santos Laguna - Osvaldo Martínez (15’), Julio Furch (38’, 54’), Edwin Cetré (79’); Club América - Cecilio Domínguez (32’)

Disciplinary: Santos Laguna - Carlos Izquierdoz (Yellow - 51’), Julio Furch (Yellow - 70’), Gerardo Alcoba (Yellow - 72’); Club América - Bruno Valdez (Yellow - 68’), Paul Aguilar (Yellow - 87’)