Santos Laguna fell by a score of 3-1 against Chicago Fire in the second matchday of the group stage of the Leagues Cup, in a game played tonight at SeatGeek Stadium.
The Warriors had a dynamic start and created the first chances of the match. In the 6th minute, Diego González tried with a left-footed shot that went over the goal, while in the 18th minute, Emmanuel Echeverría aimed for the corner with a shot that was saved by the local goalkeeper. In the same play, another attempt by Diego González hit the crossbar.
Santos' offensive persistence paid off in the 19th minute. After receiving a through ball, Ezequiel Bullaude evaded the goalkeeper outside the box and finished precisely with a long-range shot, putting the Warriors ahead 1-0.
Chicago Fire responded, and Carlos Acevedo stepped up to maintain Santos' lead. In the 33rd minute, the Santos goalkeeper made a spectacular save against a right-footed shot from Jonathan Bamba that was heading for the corner.
Santos created danger again in the 40th minute when Fran Villalba advanced at full speed and passed to Bullaude, who attempted to finish with his right foot, but his shot was deflected by the defense. Moments later, Lewandowski tried to surprise Acevedo, but his shot went high.
In the 42nd minute, Echeverría sent a cross into the box that was headed by Diego González, but the ball went wide. In stoppage time, Acevedo intervened again, this time against a header from Maren Haile-Selassie.
The second half began with chances in both areas, though neither team had clear dominance.
In the 55th minute, Jack Elliot tried inside Santos' box, but his shot went wide. Six minutes later, Renato Paiva made two substitutions: Lucas Di Yorio came on for Eduardo Aguirre, and Javier Abella replaced Mauricio Cuevas.
Santos came close to extending their lead in the 65th minute. Di Yorio recovered the ball, advanced into the box, and just as he was about to shoot, Andrew Gutman appeared to deflect the attempt for a corner. A minute later, Efraín Orona joined the attack and connected with a header that hit the crossbar of the local goal.
In the 67th minute, Diego Medina came on for Fran Villalba.
Chicago Fire came close again with a header from Elliot in the 68th minute, which went over the goal defended by Acevedo. Later, Dithejane tried with a long-range shot that went wide.
In the 71st minute, the home team found the equalizer through Philip Zickernagel, who appeared inside Santos' box and finished at the near post.
The Warriors tried to regain the lead and created another opportunity in the 76th minute. At the start of the play, Lucas Di Yorio was tackled harshly by Jack Elliot, but the referee did not call a foul. The play continued, and Diego González advanced quickly to find Bullaude, who cut inside the box and shot at goal, but the local goalkeeper managed to save it.
In the final stretch, Chicago Fire increased the pressure on Santos' goal. In the 82nd minute, Lewandowski shot over the crossbar, and a minute later, Santos made two more substitutions: Javier Güémez came on for Salvador Mariscal, and Magnus López replaced Diego González, marking the latter's first minutes with the First Team.
In the 89th minute, Chicago Fire managed to turn the score around. Anton Salétros appeared inside the box and took a shot that was deflected, altering its trajectory and ending up in the back of the net.
In stoppage time, in the 90+3 minute, Lewandowski capitalized on a rebound inside the box to seal the 3-1 final score.
Santos Laguna lineup:
1. Carlos Acevedo; 17. Emmanuel Echeverría, 25. Felipe Sánchez, 14. Efraín Orona, 3. Mauricio Cuevas; 8. Salvador Mariscal, 5. Aldo López; 21. Fran Villalba, 10. Ezequiel Bullaude, 20. Diego González, 19. Eduardo Aguirre.
Head Coach: Renato Paiva.