Match recap: Santos Laguna 2, Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 1

Santos Laguna continued their winning ways at home, beating Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 2-1 at Territorio Santos Modelo thanks to goals from Josecarlos Van Rankin and Octavio Rivero. A penalty conversion from Hugo Silveira was the only blemish on the night for Los Guerreros, who re-enter the Liguilla conversation with a flourish. Querétaro on the other hand now sits on the outside looking in.

Santos had a golden opportunity in the second minute off of a Diego Valdés free kick, The ball fell to the feet of Julio Furch but his shot was mis-hit and went right into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Gil Alcalá. In the seventh minute, Martín Rea took down Julio Furch just outside of the box, earning a yellow card. Valdés took the free kick and Alcalá made a fantastic diving save to punch the ball wide.

In the 14th minute, Santos’ persistence would pay off. Santos had a great, methodical build up and Josecarlos Van Rankin was able to tee one up from about 25 yards out and absolutely nailed it, hitting a bending shot that Alcalá got a fingertip on but couldn’t stop.

Santos largely looked in control, with crisp passing and really exuding a confidence on the ball. Querétaro wasn’t as commanding, but dud the best with the chances they were given. In the 21st minute, a free kick from distance forced Acevedo to make a diving stop, pushing the ball over the crossbar. Querétaro looked most dangerous when counterattacking, but while they were able to generate some favorable rushes they were unable to convert anything. Santos was always able to get players back an clog up the passing lanes.

There was a bit of controversy in the 39th with Santos was pressuring and a cross went in toward Julio Furch. Furch looked to have been pulled down in the box but no penalty was awarded. In the 42nd minute Alcalá made another fantastic save to rob Brayan Garnica of a certain goal. A minute later, Querétaro would break and as Gonzalo Montes was teeing up a shot David Andrade ran square into his back. Hugo Silveira stepped up and hit the penalty to draw the sides level. As time expired on the first half, Santos got one last rush but Alcalá again made a solid save to keep the score even at one goal each.

The second half started out much the same way the first ended, with Santos pressuring Querétaro for long stretches of play and Gallos looking for the counterattack. This endured for quite a while, with neither side really threatening the other. Octavio Rivero had a shot in the 60th minute that went just inches over the bar. Santos would find a second goal in the 67th when Garnica hit a great cross in and Rivero headed the ball with pace, bouncing it past Alcalá.

Querétaro almost equalized a minute later when a free kick deflection missed Acevedo’s goal by inches. Santos however largely was able to keep players back and defend well to limit any chances from Querétaro. As the 90 minute mark drew nearer, Querétaro kept pressuring, but Santos had answers to everything Querétaro threw at them. Acevedo made a save on a free kick header deep in stoppage time to preserve the three points for Los Guerreros.

Santos will head to Juárez to face Los Bravos on Friday while Querétaro heads home to host Toluca on Thursday.

Santos Laguna: Carlos Acevedo; David Andrade, Matheus Dória, Hugo Rodríguez, Josecarlos Van Rankin; Adrian Lozano (Gael Sandoval, 54’), Alan Cervantes, Brayan Garnica (Jair González, 80’); Diego Valdés (Ulíses Rívas, 90+4’); Octavio Rivero, Julio Furch (Eduardo Aguirre, 55’)

Gallos Blancos de Querétaro: Gil Alcalá; Erik Vera, Daniel Cervantes, Martín Rea (Omar Arrellano, 81’), Alfonso Luna; Kevin Ramírez (Kevin Escamilla, 77’), Gonzalo Montes, Fernando Madrigal (Ángel Sepúlveda, 76’), Nicolás Albarracín (Irving Zurita, 46’); Omar Islas (Jonathan Betancourt, 77’), Hugo Silveira (Francisco Da Costa, 64’)

Scoring: Santos Laguna - Josecarlos Van Rankin (14’), Octavio Rivero (67’); Gallos Blancos de Querétaro - Hugo Silveira (45’ - penalty)

Disciplinary: Santos Laguna - Adrián Lozano (Yellow - 15’), Darwin Quintana (Yellow - 23’), Diego Valdés (Yellow - 90+3’); Gallos Blancos de Querétaro - Martín Rea (Yellow - 8’), Hugo Silveira (Yellow - 39’)