Mexican League Liguilla Final-Santos Laguna vs Toluca (Preview)
As the football season in Europe draws to a close, it’s also time for the Ligualla final in Brazil, where Toluca and Santos come face to face. Toluca started the season with non momentum, the performances earlier in the season, were not at all promising, and few disappointing wins to lesser oppositions did not do them any good either, but as the season went on, Toluca have raised their game to a great degree, the qualification looked unlikely, and that is in fact when they actually stepped it up.
Toluca lost their last game in the 10th round, the defence especially has been their strength, conceding fewer goals meant, there was not always pressure on the offensive side of the team to chase the game, and while they did lack in flair to some degree throughout the season, but it is the number of points which matters in the end. The technical and strategic brilliance on the field is what got them where they stand today. Toluca have scored a total of 27 goals, while conceding only 15, Hector with 8 goals has been their top scorer, and their go to man whenever they needed one, while Zinha has not been far behind with 5, while Carlos has also netted 5 times.
Toluca made their way past a dogged and determined team of Pachuca, 3-2 on aggregate, to claim a place in the big final. As mentioned earlier Zinha has been the main man upfront, powering his side all the way to the final, in the start of the season Zinha was off his game, and just could not find his goal scoring shoes, but just when they needed him the most, he has delivered for the team, however Toluca will be missing the services of Osvaldo Gonzalez as he is suspended, and will miss the final, if Toluca do manage to win the final, it will get them level with America, who have also won 10 titles while only Chivas has won more which is 11.
It has been the home form, which has seen Toluca carve out crucial results during the season, during the knockout stages they had made sure not to lose away and held out for draws, while at home they finished the job by a win, and the 2nd leg of the final at home will be the key as far as Toluca is concerned.
While Toluca had to really pull up their socks to make it to the final, Santos' position in the Playoff was all but assured. Winning four of their first six games they were able to have a good start to the season, and the early wins were critical, as they hit a bad patch in the middle which saw them lose 3 straight games, which included a 6-2 loss to Chivas, but the points cumulated from earlier games helped them qualify. Santos have a total of 22 points, which is 2 less then Toluca, and scored 27 goals just like their opponents, but have conceded 25, which is 10 more then Toluca. While Darwin been their best goal scorer with 6 goals, and Peralta has got 5.
The 2 legged final is expected to be a tactically fought affair, as Toluca will be trying their best not to concede in the first leg, as their strength lies at home, and if they are able to do that, they should be the favourites, but if Santos do get one or two goals during the first leg, it might make for a much open game.
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