Santos Laguna Stuns Liga MX Leaders León – A Night of Drama, Glory, and Controversy!
In an electrifying showdown that sent shockwaves through the Liga MX, Santos Laguna defied the odds and handed León their first defeat of the Clausura 2024 tournament, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory in stoppage time. While León remains atop the standings with 26 points, the upset exposed vulnerabilities in the once-unshakable squad. Meanwhile, despite their stunning win, Santos remains at the bottom of the table, with just seven points—making this victory feel like a defiant roar from a team desperate for resurgence.
From Zeroes to Giant Killers
Head coach Fernando “Tano” Ortiz didn’t sugarcoat the reality of the club’s struggles, acknowledging their bottom-table status. However, his pride in the squad’s grit was undeniable:
“We know we’re still last, but tonight, we took down the super-leader. La Laguna deserves this moment of joy, but tomorrow, we work even harder.”
The dramatic win, which saw Santos Laguna overcome a red card disadvantage, showcased the unpredictable beauty of football—a game where the underdog can rewrite the script in just 90 minutes.
A Match Full of Twists and Missed Chances
The action-packed night at TSM Corona Stadium kicked off with León nearly drawing first blood in the 15th minute, when John Steven Mendoza’s powerful shot rattled the crossbar. Santos responded at the 25th minute, but Aldo López squandered a golden opportunity, also hitting the woodwork despite having an open goal.
The 61st-minute expulsion of Adonis Frías seemed to tilt the match in León’s favor, and just eight minutes later, Mendoza finally broke the deadlock with a clinical finish off a Jhonder Cádiz assist.
But Santos refused to bow down. In the 75th minute, Argentine Ramiro Sordo leveled the match with a stunning strike. The real drama, however, came in stoppage time when Peruvian defender Anderson Santamaría soared above the defense to nod home the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute, sending the home crowd into absolute euphoria.
Elsewhere in Liga MX – A Weekend of Comebacks and Clásico Drama
The surprises didn’t stop in Torreón. Over in Tijuana, Atlas pulled off an epic comeback from 3-0 down to defeat the Xolos 4-3, fueled by a hat-trick from Serbian Uros Durdevic and a late dagger from Matheus Doria.
Meanwhile, in a clash of Liga MX titans, Guadalajara and América played to a goalless draw, failing to deliver the fireworks expected from Mexico’s biggest clásico.
Elsewhere:
- Toluca obliterated Necaxa 5-2, with Alexis Vega netting a hat-trick.
- Cruz Azul and Monterrey shared spoils in a 1-1 draw.
- Pachuca and Mazatlán also settled for a 1-1 stalemate.
- Pumas UNAM crushed Puebla 3-1.
- Tigres UANL celebrated their 65th anniversary with a 1-0 win over Querétaro.
- Atlético de San Luis edged out Juárez 1-0.
The Fallout – Is León’s Aura of Invincibility Fading?
León’s dominance has been undeniable, but this loss raises questions: Was this just a bad night, or a warning sign of deeper cracks in their armor? Meanwhile, for Santos, this victory may just be the spark they need to reignite their season.
One thing is certain—Liga MX just got a lot more interesting.
