Santos Laguna Stuns Cruz Azul In Dramatic Liga MX Clash
Santos Laguna Stuns Cruz Azul In Dramatic Liga MX Clash...
Santos Laguna pulled off a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cruz Azul in a high-stakes Liga MX match late Wednesday night, reigniting the rivalry between the two Mexican soccer powerhouses. The game, played at Estadio Corona in Torreón, saw Santos Laguna overcome an early deficit with two late goals, sending fans into a frenzy and sparking widespread discussion among U.S. soccer enthusiasts.
The match is trending in the U.S. due to Liga MX's growing popularity among American audiences, particularly in states with large Mexican-American populations like California, Texas, and Illinois. Major networks like TUDN and Fox Deportes broadcast the game nationally, drawing strong viewership numbers during primetime hours.
Cruz Azul took an early lead through Uriel Antuna's 12th-minute strike, but Santos Laguna responded with goals from Harold Preciado and Juan Brunetta before halftime. The second half saw Cruz Azul equalize via Carlos Rotondi in the 68th minute, only for Eduardo Aguirre to score the winner for Santos in the 83rd minute off a chaotic corner kick sequence.
The result has significant implications for the Liga MX Clausura standings, with Santos Laguna (6-3-2) moving into third place while Cruz Azul (5-4-2) drops to sixth. Social media platforms saw over 250,000 mentions of the match overnight, with many U.S.-based fans debating the controversial refereeing decisions that saw Cruz Azul denied a potential penalty in stoppage time.
This marks Santos Laguna's first home win against Cruz Azul since 2019, breaking a five-game winless streak in the fixture. The clubs have developed one of Mexico's most intense rivalries in recent years, with their matches frequently drawing attention north of the border due to the large diaspora fanbases in American cities.
Liga MX continues to outperform MLS in U.S. television ratings, with Wednesday's match averaging 850,000 viewers across all platforms according to Nielsen estimates. The league's accessibility on mainstream U.S. channels and streaming services has contributed to its stateside popularity, particularly during midweek fixtures when fewer American sports compete for attention.
Both teams return to action this weekend, with Santos Laguna visiting Puebla on Saturday while Cruz Azul hosts Atlético San Luis on Sunday. The rematch between these sides is scheduled for April 19 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, another matchup likely to draw significant U.S. interest.
