Photo Credit: LIGA Bancomer MX
By: Jonny Rico
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QUERETARO, MEXICO – Club Santos Laguna win the Mexican league title for a fifth time. It suffered a 3-0 loss on Sunday evening to host Club Queretaro. But the 5-0 win at home during the first leg gave the Northern side the 5-3 aggregate win.
Following the first leg no one gave Queretaro a shadow of hope of overcoming the scoreline. But a 3-0 lead at halftime meant that the home fans had plenty to cheer and to be hopeful about.
A penalty for the hosts in the ninth minute of play was the fast start that Queretaro was hoping for. Mario Osuna stepped up and converted the first goal of the match. The goal allowed the ‘Gallos Blancos’ to push forward with a lot of momentum.
Central defender Yasser Corona doubled the lead in the 20th minute by getting his head to the ball after a corner kick. Not only did the scoreline doubled but also the Queretaro momentum. As it continued to push forward.
What seemed impossible started to look like it had a chance when Angel Sepulveda made it 3-0 in the 38th minute. Queretaro were now only two goals away from drawing level in the aggregate and forcing overtime with more than half of the game to go.
The home side even came out of the locker room a little early pumped and ready as it tried to make Liga MX history. No team had ever gotten a five goal win in the first leg. Which by extension no other team has ever overcome a five goal deficit.
Club Queretaro manager Victor Manuel Vucetich aka ‘King Midas’ held an ace under his sleeve. He subbed in Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho in the 60th minute. He did send the ball into the back of the net but the goal was ruled off and he was issued a yellow card. The Brazilian had taken the ball out of the air when the Santos goalkeeper was trying to punt the ball away.
Queretaro kept up its search for that fourth goal that would have put the game within one goal. But the Santos squad was able to regroup and better contain the Queretaro attacks. Santos hanged on for the remainder of the match and received its fifth trophy.
Mexico
MLS
Santos Laguna – champions
(Photo: Francisco Estrada/JAM MEDIA)
