“Fran Villalba converts a penalty after a VAR review to give Santos Laguna the lead just before halftime.”
Pivotal“Sergio Damián Barreto sent off in stoppage time after picking up a yellow card for arguing with officials.”
Santos Laguna
Pachuca
Outstanding performance
Santos Laguna•MidfielderSantos Laguna controlled the game from the front, racking up 15 shots and nine on target compared to Pachuca's zero on target all match, and it was fitting that the breakthrough came from a set piece — Fran Villalba stepping up to convert a penalty in the 45th minute after a VAR review. Pachuca, who managed just 11 shots and never tested Santos' goalkeeper, leaned heavily on their defense, making 16 tackles and forcing eight saves at the other end to keep the deficit to one. The match turned scrappy in the closing stages, with cards flying and Pachuca reduced to ten men in stoppage time after Sergio Damián Barreto was sent off following a heated argument. For Santos, the win keeps their push up the table alive, while Pachuca will be frustrated at their toothless attacking output despite matching their opponents in dangerous attacks.
How entertaining was this match?
Carlos Sanchez Nava receives a yellow card.
Sergio Barreto receives a yellow card.
Geovanni Perez replaces Efrain Orona Zavala.
Offside.
Diego Gonzalez receives a yellow card.
Diego Gonzalez receives a yellow card.
Gael Alvarez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gael Alvarez is coming on for Nicolas Javier Vallejo.
Corner awarded.
Ezequiel Bullaude takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Aldo Lopez Vargas is substituted on for Fran Villalba.
Ramiro Sordo comes on for Esteban Lozano.
Shot - Jose Salomon Rondon Gimenez Head Shot Missed
Corner awarded.
Carlos Sanchez Nava comes on for Sebastian Santos.
Offside.
Substitution: Adrian Alcaraz comes on for Sergio Rodriguez.
Nicolas Javier Vallejo takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jose Salomon Rondon Gimenez takes a shot with his head, but it's blocked.
Oussama Idrissi takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Eduardo Daniel Aguirre Lara with his right foot, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Esteban Lozano takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Eduardo Daniel Aguirre Lara comes on for Kevin Alexander Palacios Salazar.
Francisco Venegas takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Mauricio Cuevas takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yellow card shown to Facundo Agustin Caseres.
Rodolfo Gilbert Pizarro Thomas comes on for Alan Bautista.
Oussama Idrissi is on, and Mauricio Isais is off.
Fran VillalbaShot from Fran Villalba with his right foot finds the back of the net.
First half ends with the score at 1-0.
Goal! Fran Villalba scores from the penalty spot to make it 1-0.
Francisco VenegasYellow CardYellow card for Francisco Venegas.
VAR decision pending regarding a penalty.
Corner awarded.
Diego Gonzalez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
VAR decision results in the cancellation of the penalty awarded to Diego Gonzalez.
Diego Gonzalez takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ezequiel Bullaude's header is saved.
Diego Gonzalez takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Fran Villalba takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Mauricio Isais takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Nicolas Javier Vallejo takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Alan Bautista takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Diego Gonzalez takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Mauricio Isais attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Nicolas Javier Vallejo takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Ezequiel Bullaude takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ezequiel Bullaude attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Ezequiel Bullaude attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Ezequiel Bullaude takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kick-off! The referee is Adonai Escobedo Gonzalez.
Santos Laguna, rock bottom of the table, have quietly won two in a row and now look to shock a Pachuca side that's been steadier but far from spectacular. With Santos' form table reading WWLDLLLLL, this Torreón clash is a rare chance for the hosts to build real momentum against a Pachuca team sitting comfortably in mid-table.
