Behind second-half goals from Fernando Arce and Christian Benitez, Santos Laguna beat Cruz Azul 2-1 in Thursday's first leg of the Mexican Clausura 2008 final. Santos returns home on Sunday and needs just a draw to claim their first league title since 2001.
Arce was Sunday's hero, as he scored the goal that put Santos through to the final. Benitez set up Arce's tally before scoring a late match-winner.
Like most of the playoff games thus far, the match was very entertaining.
Here are the highlights:
3 comments:
BTW, any info in the stories on how we can watch these games would be great.
Cheers!
chucho benitez is the truth...... i think the laguneros win the 2nd leg easily.
iViva Ecuador y viva Benitez!
A very entertaining first leg which was a game of two halves. Cruz Azul won the first half and scored when Carlos Bonet's precision cross was headed in by Nicolas Vigneri. Cruz Azul kept up the pressure but couldn't get a second goal. At the half Daniel Guzman the Santos coach made some adjustments, got the midfield more involved but most importantly brought Cristian Benitez more into the game and he changed the course of the match. First he set up Fernando Arce for a first time shot from just inside the penalty area to tie it up. Then after Vigneri missed a great chance on one end, Santos broke away quickly and Benitez made a couple of great moves to get away from first Beltran then Torrado before firing a rocket past Yosgart Gutierrez in Cruz Azul's goal. A beautiful goal, and what a way to win the match. Santos are in great shape now headed to their home game where the temperature will likely be near 100 degrees!
eric, Sunday's Final will be on Azteca America at 6 pm ET, 3 pm PT. By the way on Saturday Azteca America will show a replay at 3 pm ET, 2 pm CT, PT of the classic 1997 Final won in extra time when Leon's goalie Angel Comizzo kicked Cruz Azul's Carlos Hermosillo while both were on the ground after tussling for a ball. Hermosillo and Cruz Azul were awarded a PK, Hermosillo converted it (that was in the day of golden goals) and Cruz Azul won the title (their last by the way.) But this was one of the most dramatic finals ever in Mexico. It is worth a watch.
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