Santos Laguna secured their third straight win in the Apertura 2026 with a 1-0 victory over Pachuca at the Estadio TSM. Spanish midfielder Fran Villalba, wearing number 21, converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time following a VAR review, sealing a tight match on Matchday 10.
The first half was defined by refereeing controversy. Referee Adonai Escobedo initially awarded Santos a penalty in the 37th minute for a foul by Eduardo Bauermann on Diego González, but the technology overturned the call. Minutes later, in added time, VAR did intervene to grant a spot-kick to the hosts, which Villalba duly dispatched. "The Spaniard Francisco Villalba converted a penalty this Saturday to give Santos Laguna a 1-0 win over Pachuca's Tuzos," the player said after the game.
In the second half, visiting goalkeeper Carlos Moreno became the main obstacle to extending the lead, making several key saves. The clearest chance for the home side came in the 62nd minute when Esteban Lozano tried an audacious backheel shot that required another fine stop. With this result, Santos Laguna improves its record to 3 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses, reaching 10 points to sit 15th in the standings, while Pachuca remains 11th with 12 points.
The win solidifies a remarkable turnaround for the team led by Portuguese coach Renato Paiva, which started the tournament without a win until the seventh matchday. The Warriors are now on a run of four wins in their last five games, a streak that includes victories over Juárez and Toluca.
Following the FIFA break, Santos Laguna will travel to face Atlético San Luis on Matchday 11. The game will be played on October 11 at the Estadio Libertad Financiera, where the Laguneros will aim to maintain their positive momentum. The opponent currently sits 14th in the table, just one point ahead, meaning a win could see Santos continue their climb. The full squad and upcoming lineups are available in our squad section.
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Manager Renato Paiva confirmed the team is now thinking about the Liguilla after the victory. "This win brings us closer to that objective," the Portuguese declared. With 10 points and a four-game winning streak, the Warriors aim to maintain their momentum. Their next challenge is against Atlético San Luis on October 11.
