Santos Laguna defeated Club Tijuana Friday night in a 3-1 game which was actually a thriller at Estadio Caliente.
Djaniny Tavares, the team’s African forward from Cape Verde, got things rolling with a goal just under the half hour mark. Xolos’ Henry Martin leveled off a beauty of an assist from former LA Galaxy player Juninho, but Santos was resilient and from the very beginning showed its determination to score often and that resilience paid off toward the end. Ulises Davila pulled Santos ahead in the final 10 minutes and Martin Bravo made it even sweeter with a goal in the last minute of stoppage time from inside the area off a pass from Luis Angel Mendoza. Bravo, Mendoza, and Bravo had all come on as subs within a 15 minute window before both goals were scored.
Los Guerreros from Torreon, Mexico now sit in fourth place in the table and look like a team who could really contend to have a major season if they keep pressing forward with the confidence they’ve asserted. Andres Renteria is more productive in the last three games than almost all of last season and Santos’ number 10, Chilean attacking midfielder Bryan Rabello, has made himself an important player in moving the ball and getting it to the feet of Renteria and Djaniny. And the fact all three subs came on and made such an impact, one that ended up winning los Guerreros the game, shows the depth Luis Zubeldia has on his bench.
Santos welcomes Luis Gil and Jonny Bornstein from Queretaro this Friday when los Gallos travel for week four. Should be good to see both former MLS players Gil and Jorge VIllafaña go up against one another, should Villafaña win another starting spot.
