Match recap: Santos Laguna 3, Tigres UANL 1

Tigres UANL would get three chances from the penalty spot, but their ability to convert only one would ensure Club Santos’ dominance at home would continue as the home side won 3-1. Jonathan Rodríguez would get a brace in the winning effort for Santos, who has lost only once at home in calendar year 2018.

The first penalty for Tigres would come in the seventh minute when Martín Nervo clipped Julián Quiñones from behind. André-Pierre Gignac took the penalty, but committed a rare mistake by shooting it wide to goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco’s right.

Santos seemed to gain confidence from the miss, and started applying pressure to Tigres defense. This would pay off in the 34th minute when Brian Lozano made a run down the left an fired a cross into the box. Julio Furch took a running leap and got his head on it, directing it past Nahuel Guzmán to give the hosts the lead.

Tigres would be awarded a second penalty in the 50th minute on almost the exact same circumstance as the first one, this time when Jesús Angulo took down André-Pierre Gignac from behind in the box. Eduardo Vargas would take the penalty and bury it to Jona Orozco’s right. He’d draw a yellow card after for unsporting behavior for his actions after converting the penalty.

Tigres wouldn’t hold the lead for long. Jonathan Rodríguez would capitalize on a mistake by Hugo Ayala and fire one past Nahuel to give Santos the 2-1 advantage.

Rodríguez would double his tally minutes later when Vargas would concede a free kick from 20 yards out. Rodríguez would hit a world-class free kick around the wall, and a diving Nahuel couldn’t get to it in time.

Tigres would be awarded a third penalty in the 79th when Matheus Dória brought down Julián Quiñones as he ran into the box, causing a big collision with Jonathan Orozco. Vargas would again take the kick, but Orozco read it perfectly, kicking the ball up and out. It fell to Gignac who took a shot, but Orozco smothered that too.

Both teams have a short week, as Santos heads to Baja California to face off against Xolos on Wednesday before hosting Cruz Azul on Sunday. Tigres returns home to face Veracruz on Wednesday before going to Aguascalientes to play Necaxa on Saturday.

Club Santos: Jonathan Orozco; Javier Abella, Martín Nervo, Matheus Dória, Jesús Angulo; Osvaldo Martínez, Brian Lozano (Deinner Quiñones, 89’), José Juan Vázquez, Jesús Isijara (Ayrton Preciado, 62’); Julio Furch, Jonathan Rodríguez (Gerardo Arteaga, 85’)

Tigres UANL: Nahuel Guzmán; Jair Guzmán, Jorge Torres Nilo, Hugo Ayala, Luis Rodríguez; Julián Quiñones (Enner Valencia, 73’), Rafael de Souza. Jesús Dueñas, Jürgen Damm; Lucas Zelerayán (Eduardo Vargas, 46’); André-Pierre Gignac

Scoring: Club Santos - Julio Furch (34’), Jonathan Rodríguez (59’, 65’); Tigres UANL - Eduardo Vargas (penalty - 52’)

Disciplinary: Club Santos - José Abella (Yellow - 41’), Matheus Dóira (Yellow - 79’); Tigres UANL - Julián Quiñones (Yellow - 35’), Hugo Ayala (Yellow - 45+2’), Eduardo Vargas (Yellow - 53’), Rafael Carioca (Yellow - 82’), Jürgen Damm (Yellow - 90’)