TORREON, Mexico – Move over Ronaldinho, Javier Orozco is the new star of Mexico. Orozco scored a stunning four goals as his quad helped lead Santos Laguna over Queretaro 5-0 in the First Leg of the 2015 Liga MX Clausura Final.
Orozco was dominant in the first half, conjuring images of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Roanldo, Orozco had a hat trick in the first half alone. He couldn't have done it without his running mate, Djaniny, who had a hat trick of assists with three clutch passes to Orozco throughout the match.
"This was the best night of my life," Orozco said after the game. "Only in my wildest dreams could I imagine a night like this. I couldn't have done it without my teammates."
Santos struck first in the opening minutes. Djaniny took a brilliant through ball from Nestor Calderon in the bottom left corner of the box. He made one move to his left and found a wide-open Orozco in front of the net.
Orozco has been excellent for Santos Laguna over their Clausura run. But the Mexican striker only had two total goals in all of his 2015 current campaign, doubling that total in one monumental match.
"It was important that we all ran and that we all aimed for the same objective of winning the game," Orozco said. "I think we've had that mentality since the game against Morelia in Week 12."
Orozco found the back of the net again in the 26th minute. After a quick stoppage in play, Santos Laguna was awarded a free kick inside the bottom left corner of the box. Adrian Aldrete took the free kick and chipped it just outside the six-yard box. Orozco, was once again wide open and headed the ball beautifully into the upper left side of the net just inside the post.
"We're all focused on winning and we sacrificed ourselves on the pitch to get the result," the hero of the match Orozco continued. "We are close to achieving our goal."
Orozco's third goal was arguably his best of the match. After receiving a back pass from Djaniny, Jose Abella Fanjul chipped the ball back into the box where Djaniny passed it off the back of his head to Orozco who in one motion, dove forward and drilled the ball into the top of the net just under the crossbar.
RELATED: Watch All Three Santos Laguna Goals As Javier Orozco Nets A Hat Trick!
The most famous man on the pitch on either side of the field entered the match in the second half. Ronaldinho played the final 45 minutes, but the Brazilian legend was unable to stop the bleeding as Santos scored two more times in the second half to complete the blow out victory.
Orozco made it an even four when he opened the second half with a goal in the 63rd minute. One again Djaniny set up Orozco as the two Santos forwards ran a two-on-one down into the Queretaro zone. Djaniny streaked down the right side of the pitch. He entered the box, brought both defenders to him, and passed to a wide-open Orozco in front of the net.
Diego Gonzalez made the score 5-0 in the 80th minute when his header found the center of the net. Jesus Escobaza sent the cross into the box and Gonzalez was right in front of the net for the easy goal.
"I'm very happy," Santos goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin said. "This was our best game of the tournament, we played a great first half."
It was a rough day for Queretaro goalkeeper Tiago Volpi who allowed five goals in the match. Santos dominated the match offensively, but surprisingly did not win the possession battle. Santos had 13 shots, with seven of them on target compared to three for Queretaro. But Queretaro possessed the ball nearly twice as much as Santos 65 percent to 35 percent for Santos.
"We won this leg, I'm extremely happy to be where we are," Santos Laguna manager Pedro Caixinha said. "We won tonight, but we still have 90 more minutes."
Queretaro will now travel back to Estadio Corregidora in the south of Mexico where they will need to score five goals or more in order to lift the Clausura trophy.
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