Argentina’s José Paradela scored his fifth goal of the year on Tuesday to give Cruz Azul a 1-2 win over Santos Laguna and consolidate its position as leader of the Mexican Clausura soccer tournament.
In the beginning of the ninth round of the championship, Jeremy Márquez and Paradela scored for Cruz Azul and the Argentine Ezequiel Ballaude scored for Santos.
Cruz Azul strikes first
In their own stadium, Santos came out to press and soon began to step on Cruz Azul’s area.
However, in the 15th minute, Javier Güemez made a mistake that led to the Azules’ goal, with a right-footed goal by Márquez.
The visitors came out to attack, but found themselves up against an opponent at a higher level than they had shown in their previous eight games.
Cruz Azul came close to extending the lead in the 40th minute, however, with a deflected header by Argentine Agustín Palavecino.
Confident after having beaten the best team in the championship, Santos went for the equalizer and got it in the 54th minute with a right-footed shot by Ballaude, from a pass by Colombian Cristian Dájome.
They consolidate their position at the top
Márquez and Paradela scored for Cruz Azul
QuéOnnda.com
The match continued to be fought in midfield until the 78th minute, when Uruguay’s Gabriel Fernández stole a ball, outwitted the defenders and gave the ball to Argentina’s Rodolfo Rotondi.
He set it up for Paradela, who scored the winning 2-1 left-footed goal.
Cruz Azul reached seven wins, with one draw, one loss and 22 points.
Above the champion Toluca, who defeated Pumas UNAM.
Santos remained in last place with two units, although it showed a rise in its level.
In another game on Tuesday, Pachuca moved up to fourth place in the standings with a 2-1 win over Necaxa, with goals from Alexei Domínguez and Moroccan Oussama Idrissi.
Javier Ruiz scored for the visitors.
Dominguez scored with a right-footed shot in the 14th minute off a pass from Brian Garcia, who in the 33rd minute set up Idrissi, who was lethal with a right-footed shot.
Necaxa scored with a right-footed shot by Ruiz in the 53rd minute, assisted by Argentine Lorenzo Faravelli.
The Clausura continues with key duels
In addition to the Pumas UNAM-Toluca match, the ninth round continued with the defeat of Mazatlan in San Luis of Italian Joao Pedro, the leading scorer.
Today, Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales’ Monterrey will host Querétaro.
Argentine world champion Ángel Correa’s Tigres UANL will visit Puebla, Tijuana will visit Atlas and Juárez FC will visit América.
Guadalajara-León will be played on March 18.
With information from EFE
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