League leaders Toluca fell 3-2 to Santos Laguna in a match that gave the visiting side their second consecutive win. Santos coach Renato Paiva kept his feet on the ground after the victory, warning that the result does not guarantee future points.
Paiva, whose team now has seven points and sits in 17th place, acknowledged the value of the three points taken at the Estadio Nemesio Díez. "They are 3 points, it obviously has a context and a reality, but that doesn't give you 6 or 9 points, it's the second victory in a row, and that is important," explained the Portuguese tactician. For him, the key is the identity and commitment his team is showing on the pitch. Paiva's team has taken 7 points from the last 9 available, showing a clear upturn in their recent form.
Context of the defeat
The defeat interrupts a run of four straight wins for Toluca, who remain top of Liga MX with 19 points. The Red Devils had beaten Puebla, Atlas, Monterrey and León before this stumble. Federico Viñas and João Paulo Dias Fernandes scored for the hosts, but goals from Ezequiel Bullaude, Kevin Palacios and Francisco Villalba in the closing minutes turned the score around. Viñas is the top scorer this season with four goals. Santos Laguna's winning goal came in the 89th minute, completing a comeback that began in the 81st minute.
Santos' coach made a call to the fans for his team's next match, which will be at home against Pachuca. "The message from the players who gave it in the last 30 minutes is to invite the fans to fill the stadium against Pachuca, we need that energy," stated Paiva. He insisted that time is needed to build a solid project and that recent wins are just one step.
Toluca, for their part, must react quickly. Their next fixture is a tough visit to Cruz Azul, who currently sit fourth in the standings. Ignacio Ambríz's team will look to get back to winning ways to defend their one-point lead over Guadalajara. Fans can check the full schedule and league table on our fixtures and standings pages.
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