With a long-range shot, Osvaldo Martínez opened the score in the match between Santos Laguna and America in the first leg of the Clausura 2018 semifinals of Liga MX. The Paraguayan player, from outside the box, shot with his right foot after a pass from Djaniny Tavares and overcame Marchesín's resistance.

In Torreón, home of Santos Laguna, a match of good football is being played between two convincing teams in the start of the playoffs. América passed over Pumas UNAM with a 6-2 victory, while Santos defeated the champion Tigres 2-0 despite playing most of the match without Uruguayan forward Jonathan Rodríguez, who was sent off.

Rodríguez is absent in the first match of the series, and Uruguayan coach Dante Siboldi bets on the attacking duo of Cape Verdean Djaniny Tavares, leading scorer, and Argentinean Julio Furch.

Santos Laguna is looking for the victory at home against a rival in good form, with a lineup highlighted by Colombian players Mateus Uribe and Andrés Ibargüen, Frenchman Jérémy Ménez, Paraguayan Cecilio Domínguez, and Mexicans Henry Martín and Oribe Peralta.

The series looks balanced, between two teams that stood out as title contenders throughout the tournament and now have to decide in a do-or-die battle which one qualifies for the final next week.