Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 9y

Ronaldinho's Queretaro to face Santos Laguna in Liga MX final

Ronaldinho was left on the bench as his Queretaro team marched to the Liga MX Clausura final, where it will meet Santos Laguna, after both overcame their semifinals on Sunday.

Queretaro won 2-0 against Pachuca to tie 2-2 on aggregate and advance to its first ever final due to its higher finishing position in the regular season table, while Santos Laguna defeated Chivas 3-0 in a dominant display, after a 0-0 first leg last Thursday.

The first leg of the final is scheduled to be played on Thursday, with the return next Sunday, although the exact times will be confirmed on Monday.

Angel Sepulveda netted Queretaro's first in the 13th minute before American Jonathan Bornstein got the vital second five minutes after halftime.

Coach Victor Manuel Vucetich sought to sure up the lead, rather than chasing more goals, meaning Ronaldinho was left on the bench. In the first leg last Thursday, Ronaldinho exited the stadium with the game still going on after being taken off just before halftime, which led to widespread criticism.

In Guadalajara, Cape Verde international Djaniny Tavares opened the scoring for Santos in the 38th minute, meaning Chivas would've needed two goals to go through.

As the home side opened up in search of the goals, Santos took advantage, with Carlos Izquierdoz doubling Santos' lead in the 56th from a corner, before Nestor Calderon launched a 40-yard effort from the wing that will go down as one of the goals of the season.

"We knew that Chivas feared that we'd score a goal and that's why we played on the front foot," said Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha in his postgame news conference.

"We looked to always be intense, dynamic and aggressive; that's what brought us victory."

Santos Laguna will be looking for their fifth first division title, while Queretaro has never won the league.

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