Santos Laguna’s Jorge Djaniny Tavares passes Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzman
Photo: Angel Cervantes/JAM MEDIA
After Azteca drama, Pachuca join Santos Laguna in Liguilla semis
A Djaniny Tavares goal in the 68th minute gave Santos Laguna a surprise win over Tigres in the second leg of the Liguilla to propel them into the semi final against Pachuca.
However the real drama came at the Stadia Azteca as Pachuca, the club founded by emigrant miners from Cornwall in 1901, beat CONCACAF Champions League winners Club America 4-3 to record a 7-5 aggregate win.
Club America had Paolo Goltz dismissed in the 37th minute for a foul on Hirving Lozano with Pachuca already 1-0 up on the night and 4-2 up on aggregate. Club America pulled one back in the 44th minute from Oribe Peralta and equalised seven minutes later through Pablo Aguilar. They held that lead for just five minutes when Walter Ayoví put Pachuca back in control.
It looked all over for the Mexico City giants until the 88th minute when Michael Arroyo equalised. Pablo Aguilar became the second Americanista to received a red in the 90th minute in an incident that also saw Pachuca awarded a penalty kick. Darío Cvitanich converted it and Pachuca took full advantage of being 11 against 9 men when German Cano silenced the Azteca with Pachuca’s 4th goal on the night in a match that produced 37 combined shots with 11 on goal.
Earlier, Santos Laguna secured the first away win of the weekend having failed to beat Tigres at home in a 1-1 tie in the first leg.
Nestor Calderón struck a long ball from midfield to Tavares who trapped the ball as he was running forward and cut left around Guzman and rolled into the far corner of the net.
Tigres were unable to counter with one goal being enough to see them advance on a better table position.
Liga Mx
