Eduardo Fentanes hails Santos Laguna despite 4-3 loss to Toluca in Liguilla | OneFootball

Santos Laguna fell 4-3 against Toluca in the chaotic first leg of their 2022 Liguilla quarterfinal match up, as a last minute penalty by goalkeeper Tiago Volpi sealed the defeat.

The first half saw four goals between the two teams, setting up the game as one of the most hectic of the Liguilla so far.

Toluca kicked off stronger, opening up the scoring in the fourth minute of the match after Carlos Gonzalez headed home a corner kick. The home side then doubled their tallies just seconds later, as Camilo Sanvezzo tapped the ball past goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo.

But Santos Laguna quickly reacted, managing a penalty and equalizer in the last moments of the first 45 before returning to the pitch and recording a third. Ultimately it was a 92nd minute penalty that decided the match, after a foul by Juan Brunetta inside the box set up Volpi for the heroic strike.

Despite the score, Santos head coach Eduardo Fentanes hailed his side for their performance.

"This is the Liguilla, there are two games, you have to know how to get through them, there will be moments for and against, but we must know how to maintain a good reading, intensity and that's how I live it as an extension of the tournament. I'm very proud of my players and if any day I have to die, I would die with players like that always without a doubt."

The team must now prepare for the second leg, as they host Toluca at Estadio Nuevo Corona on Sunday.

"It's half time, it's as if they were doing an interview (at halftime) and the match has a difference of one goal, we have been strong at home, we were the best local in the tournament and with our people surely a similar match, kill or die and with the full confidence that we will get through it," he added.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Liguilla America will host Pachuca for the second round game, Cruz Azul visits Rayados, and Pachuca welcomes Tigres to determine the semi-final match ups.