Santos Laguna hold for win over Querétaro, keep Liguilla hopes alive

Santos Laguna held on to a 2-1 win over Querétaro at the Estadio Corona as the Guerreros moved up to 12th in the league standings to keep their faint Liguilla hopes alive.

After seven minutes, Santos had the ball on the back of the net when a cross from the right-hand side ended with Querétaro defender Victor Milke scoring past his own keeper.

The Guerreros then only needed a few more minutes to double their lead. This time Javier Correa produced an excellent shot from outside the box to put the score at 2-0.

It took 22 minutes for Querétaro to have their first big chance of the game. Following a quick cross from the right wing, nobody was able to push the ball into the back of the net as the Gallos Blancos gave their first real warning.

In the 34th minute, Carlos Orrantia tried his luck from the edge of the box, only to see his deflected effort hit the side of the woodwork.

Querétaro then grew in confidence at the start of the second period and got a goal back when an error from Gerardo Arteaga led to Ake Loba scoring from a breakaway.

In the 70th minute, a refreshed Gallos Blancos side almost equalized. Santos goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco conjured up a brilliant fingertip save to deny a George Corral chance.

With the win nearly in their grasp, Santos came close to putting the game away. First through Brian Lozano and then through Diego Valdes from the ensuing rebound.

At the end, Santos got the three points they needed to keep themselves just four points shy of eighth place Puebla with two games to go in the regular season.