Match recap: Santos Laguna 1, América 1

A hard-fought match between two very good teams as Santos Laguna and América played to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Corona. Henry Martín scored América’s lone goal while Santos canterano Santiago Muñoz was the hero for the home side.

Both teams came out looking to assert themselves, and both were able to get some pressure early. América had won a corner kick within the first minute of play, and by the third minute Santos had already had a break down field that América had to scramble to defend. While the battles were fierce, the actual chances were scant and it was some time before an actual shot on goal in the 14th minute when Matheus Dória unleashed a rocket of a free kick that Óscar Jiménez made a fine diving stop on.

Santos kept attacking down the right, using winger Juan Ferney Otero’s speed on the counter to create separation and space. América was largely able to contain him however and force him to run out of room or dribble back into traffic. América was more concerned with possession, methodically moving the ball up and down the field but troubling Carlos Acevedo infrequently. Acevedo did need to make a save in the 40th, tipping a blast from Santiago Naveda just over the bar. América would break through however in the 43rd when América was awarded a free kick just outside of the box. Leo Suárez hit a powerful shot that Acevedo made a diving stop on, but Henry Martín was able to get to the rebound and smash it home.

In the second half, Santos began applying constant pressure, winning several corner kicks and creating some dangerous chances early. Dória had another free kick from middle distance in the 63rd that he smashed off of the crossbar. There was a bit of controversy in the 68th when during a sequence the ball looked to hit off of the bicep of Alan Cervantes, and the ball was knocked up into the air. Acevedo jumped up to grab it and was run into by an América player. Referee Diego Montaño went to VAR and determined it was not a handball and that Acevedo had been fouled, constituting a goal kick.

Santos was able to finally equalize in the 82nd minute when 6 played a nice ball forward to Jezús Ocejo, who hit a laser directly at Óscar Jiménez. Jiménez made the stop but Santiago Muñoz continued his run and got his head onto the ball, leaving Jiménez only able to wave at the ball as it passed by.

Santos tried to bottle the momentum and keep it going however América was able to stand firm for the remainder of the match. Santos will head to Guadalajara to face Atlas on Saturday, while América returns home to host Puebla also on Saturday.

Santos Laguna: Carlos Acevedo; Omar Campos (Santiago Muñoz, 59’), Matheus Dória, Félix Torres, Carlos Orrantia (Adrián Lozano, 78’); Ronaldo Prieto, Fernando Gorriarán, Alan Cervantes, Juan Ferney Otero; Ignacio Jeraldino (Jesús Ocejo, 78’), Eduardo Aguirre

Club América: Óscar Jiménez; Luis Fuentes, Sebastián Cáceres, Víctor Aguilera ,Jorge Sánchez; Leonardo Suárez (Alan Medina, 65’), Antonio López, Santiago Naveda, Sebastián Córdova (Roger Martínez, 79’); Henry Martín (Federico Viñas, 88’), Mauro Lainez

Scoring: Santos Laguna - Santiago Muñoz (81’); América - Henry Martín (43’)

Disciplinary: Santos Laguna - Carlos Orrantia (Yellow - 58’), Darwin Quintana (Yellow - 90+1’); América - Santiago Naveda (Yellow - 49’), Roger Martínez (Yellow - 90+1’)