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It’s MLS 1, Liga MX 0 in CCL after Montreal routs Santos

By Thomas Buckley

Romell Quioto got CF Montreal off to a great start - scoring in minute 9 - in the club's CCL Round of 16 match against Liga MX club Santos Laguna. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Romell Quioto got CF Montreal off to a great start - scoring in minute 9 - in the club's CCL Round of 16 match against Liga MX club Santos Laguna. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Santos loses Liga MX MLS
Djordje Mihailovic contributed a goal and an assist in CF Montreal’s 3-0 rout of Liga MX club Santos Laguna in Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions League match. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Montreal runs roughshod over Guerreros

Santos Laguna continued its putrid form, meekly bowing out of the Concacaf Champions League after a 3-0 loss to CF Montreal. And the result could have been worse for the Liga MX side.

The Canadian club quickly erased the 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Torreón last week when Romell Quioto slotted home from a sharp angle in minute 9. Djordje Mihailovic put Montreal ahead in the aggregate score 13 minutes later, blasting a left-footer off the underside of the crossbar.

Ismael Koné completed the scoring just after the hour mark, banging home a lovely pass from Mihailovic to complete a counterattacking move. Montreal advances to the quarterfinals where they will face the winner of the Cruz Azul-Forge FC series.

Santos is winless in Liga MX play this season (0-2-4, 6 goals scored and 13 allowed) and they did not put up much of a fight, managing only 2 shots on goal. The Guerreros looked like a shadow of the team that finished fifth in Liga MX last season.

It probably didn’t help that coach Pedro Caixinha did not make the trip north after testing positive for Covid, but Montreal overwhelmed the listless Guerreros. Santos had but 42% possession and when they had the ball they quickly turned it over thanks to poor positioning and 65% passing accuracy.

Despite still being days away from opening their MLS season, Montreal impressed with flowing movement, sharp passing and sturdy defense. The Canadian club even hit metal twice and forced under siege goalie Carlos Acevedo to make several acrobatic saves.

León ensures Liga MX presence in quarterfinals

A second-choice Esmeraldas side eased past Guatemalan club Guastatoya 1-0 on Tuesday night, advancing to the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals on a 3-0 aggregate score. Elías Hernández found the net in minute 11 and “La Fiera” saw out the game from there.

Next. Barça need win to advance in Europa League. dark

The Liga MX still has two other teams in the regional tournament: UNAM hosted Costa Rica’s Saprissa Wednesday (the first leg in Central America ended 2-2) while Cruz Azul is set to host Canada’s Forge FC on Thursday with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.

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