Last minute goal gives Necaxa important win over Santos!
Necaxa visited Santos in Torreón for Week 11 of Liga MX. Both teams came into this game tied in the standings and in need of a win to continue keeping their Liguilla hopes alive. Santos had history on their side as they hadn’t lost to Necaxa at home in 20 years.
The game started back and forth although Santos quickly gained control and had slightly more ball possession. Still, both teams exchanged shots on goal. Necaxa early on was able to find the back of the net when Santos goalie, Carlos Acevedo, was unable to secure an Angel Sepulveda shot that ended up near the feet of other Necaxa forward, Rodrigo Contreras. With the score up 1-0 in Necaxa’s favor, they tried to manage the rest of the game, although still trying to go on the offensive whenever possible, even if it that was mostly confined to the counter-attack.
Towards the end of the first half, Santos midfielder Javier Correa would fall inside the box after Necaxa defender Alexis Peña slid for a tackle. Initially, the referee would call for a penalty in Santos favor, but after further review with assistance from the VAR, his decision would be overturned, and the game would continue.
For the second half, Santos continued dominating the time of possession and were intent on finding the equalizer. A Diego Valdes free kick nearly tied things up early on in the second half, but Necaxa goalie and Mexico National Team call-up, Hugo Gonzalez, was able to deflect the ball from going in.
The Necaxa goalie had been having a great game and had played a significant role in helping to keep Necaxa’s lead. But for goalies, the line between hero and villain is a fine one, and he soon found himself on the other side. At the 54th minute of play, Hugo Gonzalez had safely secured a Santos shot in his arm and went to play the ball, only the Rayos’ goalkeeper hesitated in which direction to release the ball causing the sphere to slip out of his hands. Santos forward Julio Furch took full advantage of this error and quickly chipped the ball past an embarrassed Hugo and a shocked Necaxa defense and into a wide-open net.
After the monumental mistake, Santos lurched forward in search of the win. However, Necaxa sought to vindicate themselves and also put in extra effort to win the game. They nearly came close at the 63rd minute with a robust Brian Fernandez header that ended up in the hands of Carlos Acevedo. Brian Fernandez for his part would have multiple opportunities to win the game for the Rayos but would not be able to finish.
The end of the second half took an exciting turn, with both teams dissatisfied with a tie and seeking the win. Just as it would seem that the game would end in a bitter tie for both, Necaxa caught a break at the 90th minute when Santos would concede a corner kick. In the ensuing kick, after the ball was put in motion inside the box, Rodrigo Contreras would find himself with the ball at his feet and would quickly shoot it into the back of the net to give the Rayos a last-minute victory.
This win allowed Necaxa to leapfrog into 6th place, jumping over Cruz Azul, Pachuca, and Puebla. Santos for their part ends this Jornada in 10th place. They’ll travel to Jalisco to take on Atlas for Week 12 of Liga MX action, while Necaxa will head home to host Veracruz.
