After a prevalent performance in the 2022 Liga MX Apertura, Santos Laguna is now fighting for a slot in the Liguilla’s semifinals.
The team fell 4-3 against Toluca in the chaotic first leg of their quarterfinal match up, as a last minute penalty by goalkeeper Tiago Volpi sealed the defeat.
The first half saw four goals between the two teams, setting up the game as one of the most hectic of the Liguilla so far. Though Santos managed a third in the second 45, ultimately it was a 92nd minute penalty that decided the match, after a foul by Juan Brunetta inside the box set up Volpi for the heroic strike.
Santos Laguna Head coach Eduardo Fentanes admitted his players left Estadio Nemesio Díez upset over the loss, but not, in any way, defeated.
“Look, I liked [their attitude after the game], because I saw courage, I saw well focused rage. I saw heads up, eyes burning. There were strong voices, ”we can’ and ‘it will come out.’ I said at the press conference that if the game was played on Friday, we were ready,” he said exclusively to 90min.
“It was good to see that attitude. It’s better than seeing a sad dressing room, or a defeated one in the middle of a series. I saw them obviously hurt, losing always hurts, but at the same time burning and angry in a good way.”
Despite the score, Fentanes is confident his side can come back stronger.
“Rising from adversity is a characteristic of this team, even from the last tournament in other circumstances, it’s something we’ve manifested. For example, if you see our first match, in 20 minutes we were losing at home against Monterrey 0-2, but we got up and ended up winning,” said Fentanes in an exclusive interview with 90 min.
“It is clear that the players are in ‘Modo Revancha,’ a concept we’ve been working with throughout the Apertura tournament. The players feel it, they are living it. There is hunger, there is pride, there is warrior DNA.”
Santos Laguna will now host Toluca for the second leg of the series on Sunday at the TSM Stadium. The team boasts a strong home record of 8W-0L-1D, standing alongside Club America and Monterrey as one of just three teams to remain unbeaten in their stadium this season.
Given their solid form in Torreon and “warrior” attitude, Fentanes maintains Santos Laguna should still be considered a contender for the title.
“Yes, without a doubt. [we are still one of the favorites for the title.] It’s half the key, it’s just one goal difference. We were already able to overcome two in a half time. We were very strong at home, being the best local. That generates that confidence in us, to be able to reverse it. I understand that we have to go out doing it well, not because it has been done well throughout the tournament. If we are able to exercise that locality again, we can come out ahead and therefore continue to be contenders for the title.”
Santos Laguna has lifted the league title six times, most recently winning the 2018 Clausura tournament. But the team dreams of a seven, in “recognition of everyone’s efforts” this season.
“It would be an important achievement, a reward for a lot of work. I don’t refer to my work, but to the day-to-day of the players, of the entire coaching staff who put a lot of professionalism into it, a lot of passion. They spend many hours outside the club working, and just like the more than 150 people who work in the club, it would be a great and fair recognition of their work,” said Fentanes.
“That’s what we dream of. It would be a great recognition of everyone’s effort. I am the face of the project, but the reality is that it is the effort of many people, starting with the players. It would be a dream come true to be champion of the league.”
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism