Five different players scored for Santos Laguna, which edged closer to the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 5-1 rout of Joe Public at Nuevo Estadio Corona Wednesday night.
Combined with Muncipal's 2-1 home win against the Columbus Crew, Santos moved atop Group B with 10 points from five matches, but failed to book its ticket because of the Guatemalan side's win.
The result left Santos hosting Municipal on October 19 needing only a draw to advance, while Joe Public - already eliminated - will be home against the Columbus Crew on October 21.
Santos wasted little time, taking the lead inside of five minutes on a goal by Rodolfo Reyes, who traded passes with Jose Cardenas and beat Joe Public goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel from eight meters.
Cardenas also played provider in the 13th minute, finding Francisco Torres with a deep cross and the Mexican midfielder settled the ball before putting it inside the far post from the right edge of the six-yard box, doubling Santos' lead.
Cardenas was played behind the Joe Public defense and had an outstanding chance to extend the lead, but Samuel did well to come off his line and save the shot with his left hand before covering the rebound in the 22nd minute.
Four minutes later, Cardenas fired wide to Samuel's right and two minutes after that, Rafa Figueroa's attempt from 24 meters glanced off the crossbar.
Against the run of play, Kerry Baptiste stunned the hosts and cut Joe Public's deficit in half in the 33rd minute when he headed Hayden Tinto's cross off the crossbar and in.
Carlos Quintero and Christian Benitez entered the match as a double substitution in the 52nd minute, and both combined for the third Santos goal as Quintero headed Benitez's cross into the far post from just inside the six-yard box on the hour mark.
Eight minutes later, Cardenas, who came close in the first half, finally found the back of the net, finishing a long run into the box with a low goal inside the far post from eight meters to put Santos comfortably ahead 4-1.
Santos wasn't done. Rafa Figueroa struck a ball from 35 meters over Samuel in the 79th minute to extend Santos' lead to four goals.
Joe Public was reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when American referee Mark Geiger sent off Carlyle Mitchell with a straight red card for a late sliding tackle on Benitez.
But seconds later, Geiger blew for the final whistle, ending Santos' rout. The Mexicans also defeated Joe Public 5-2 on August 18 in Trinidad.
Final Recap
Santos 5 v Joe Public 1
Jose Reyes 4, Francisco Torres 14, Carlos Quintero 60, Jose Cárdenas 68, Rafael Figueroa 79 ; Kerry Baptiste 33.
Teams
Joe Public: - 22.Glenroy Samuel; 30.Carlyle Mitchell (Red 90'). 13.Jason Springer (Yellow 57'), 12.Nigel Daniel (Yellow 30') (33.Marvin Manswell 72nd), 34.Jevon Morris (Yellow 12'); 8.Trent Noel (Devon Jamerson 77th), 16.Gayson Gregory, 7.Hayden Tinto, 28.Marcus Joseph, 10.Yu Hoshide (27.Micah Lewis 68th); 4.Kerry Baptiste (Yellow 33').
Coach: - Derek King.
Santos: - 25.Miguel Becerra; 21.Juan Santiago, 19.Rafael Figueroa, 27.Jose Olvera (11.Christian Benítez 52nd), 14.Uriel Álvarez, 13.José Reyes (28.Carlos Quintero 52nd), 26.Francisco Torres, 15.Jaime Toledo, 9.Rodrigo Ruiz (10.Daniel Ludueña 68th), 7.José Cárdenas, 17.Rodolfo Salinas.
Video Highlights: - Joe Public v Santos
Coach: - Ruben Romano.
Referee: - Mark Geiger (USA).
Venue: - Nuevo Estadio Corona, Mexico.
Standings
GP W D L F A D PTS
Santos 5 3 1 1 13 6 +7 10
Columbus Crew 5 3 0 2 6 3 +3 9
Municipal 5 2 2 1 8 7 +1 8
Joe Public 5 0 1 4 6 17 -11 1
General Game Stats
Santos v Joe Public
Shots on goal 5 1
Shots wide 6 3
Fouls 4 6
Corner Kicks 7 3
Offsides 2 1
Possession 58% 42%