Fansided

Santos displaces Cruz Azul atop Liga MX standings

By Thomas Buckley

TORREON, MEXICO - OCTOBER 05: Jonathan Rodriguez (R) of Santos celebrates after scoring the third goal of his team with teammate Osvaldo Martinez (L) during the 12th round match between Santos Laguna and Atlas as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Corona Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Torreon, Mexico. (Photo by Armando Marin/Jam Media/Getty Images)
TORREON, MEXICO - OCTOBER 05: Jonathan Rodriguez (R) of Santos celebrates after scoring the third goal of his team with teammate Osvaldo Martinez (L) during the 12th round match between Santos Laguna and Atlas as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Corona Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Torreon, Mexico. (Photo by Armando Marin/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Matchday 12 kicked off on Friday night with a pair of games and Santos is the new leader atop the Liga MX table – for now – while Necaxa earned its first point on the road this season in an eminently forgettable match against Veracruz.

Defending champion Santos went to bed knowing they will be atop the standings – for a few hours at least – after easing past lowly Atlas.

Santos 3, Atlas 1

The Guerreros were not going to allow Atlas to build on their upset win over Toluca and they took control of the game from the outset, nearly scoring twice in the game’s opening 10 minutes.

League-leading scorer Julio Furch finally got Santos on the board in minute 19, getting his 9th goal of the season after a lovely give-and-go with Jonathan Rodríguez.

Osvaldo Martínez doubled the lead in minute 47 with a precision free-kick from just outside the box, but Atlas responded quickly, scoring two minutes later on an Omar González header off a free kick. The former U.S. international rose up in front of his marker at the near post and flicked the ball over the hands of onrushing Santos keeper Jonathan Orozco.

Santos restored its 2-goal lead in minute 57 when Rodríguez cut toward the top of the 6-yard box at the near post on a corner kick and redirected Martínez’s perfect cross inside the far post.

The win gives Santos 24 points through 12 games, 1 point ahead of Cruz Azul who hosts Monterrey on Saturday night. Atlas remains in the cellar with 5 points.

Veracruz 0, Necaxa 0

Necaxa was dreadful in a game that was theirs for the taking even if the tie earned them their first road points of the season.

The Rayos seemed to lack interest and appeared lethargic for the first 20 minutes of the match, before gradually displaying a bit of energy. Despite enjoying 65% of possession, Necaxa did not attack with their usual quick-passing, motion offense. Much of their possession was piled up in their defensive end as they lackadaisically made Veracruz chase the play.

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Veracruz hustled on defense throughout the 90 minutes and attacked vertically when in possession, but it was unproductive offense and the Tiburones failed to get a shot on goal before halftime. Necaxa, meanwhile, had forced two good saves by Veracruz goalie Pedro Gallese, but both came on set pieces.

In the second half, Veracruz pounced on every Necaxa mistake (and there were plenty), producing three excellent breakaway chances. On the first, goalie Hugo González made a splendid kick save of a Cristián Menéndez shot and on the other two Rayos defenders recovered to shut down the counterattack opportunity.

Necaxa coach Marcelo Michel can’t be happy with his team’s effort, but his failure to make adjustments also raises eyebrows. He waited to make his final two substitutions with only 2 minutes remaining. Once the boy wonder of Mexican coaching ranks, Michel must be blamed for the uninspiring performance of the Rayos. Either he is putting players in unfamiliar positions or they have tuned him out because this is the second straight game where Necaxa has appeared to simply be going through the motions.

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