Querétaro - Santos: Gruezo scores stunner then is sent off as Santos salvage 2-2 draw
In a combative Jornada 8 clash of the Torneo Clausura 2026, the match between querétaro - santos at Estadio La Corregidora finished 2-2 after a late drama: Carlos Gruezo produced a breathtaking equalizer at 45+6 but was shown a direct red card at the 89th minute, leaving Santos Laguna with 10 men in the closing stages. The sequence altered the match dynamics and left both teams to settle for a point.
Estadio La Corregidora hosts Jornada 8 showdown
The fixture at Estadio La Corregidora yielded a 2-2 final scoreline in the Jornada 8 round of the Torneo Clausura 2026. Santos Laguna came away from the venue with a rescued draw as the visitors. The late sending-off compounded the result for the Guerreros, who saw their numerical parity disrupted when Carlos Gruezo received a straight red card in the 89th minute for a foul deemed serious by the referee.
Carlos Gruezo impact: goal at 45+6 and expulsion at 89
Carlos Gruezo delivered two defining moments. At 45+6 of the first half, after a set-piece sequence in which Luca Di Yorio headed the ball down, Gruezo struck from distance with a powerful shot that curled into the top corner — a strike many characterized as one of the best of the round and noted as his first goal with Santos Laguna. That effort restored parity before halftime and energized the travelling Santos contingent present at the stadium. However, the same midfielder received a direct red card at the 89th minute for a tackle judged severe, forcing Santos to finish with 10 players and altering their approach in the final minutes.
Querétaro - Santos midfield and attacking roles
The midfield battle featured Gruezo as a key figure in both containment and creation for Santos prior to his dismissal. For Querétaro, Colombian Jhojan Julio completed the full 90 minutes, contributing consistent attacking pressure and dynamism even though he did not record a goal or an assist. Santos’ squad selection also reflected fitness concerns: Michael Carcelén was not considered for the match because of a muscle injury, a decision that had immediate tactical consequences.
Luca Di Yorio’s assist and match sequence
Luca Di Yorio played a direct role in the match’s pivotal moment by nodding the ball down from a set-piece that allowed Gruezo the space to unleash his long-range effort. The timing of the equalizer — in stoppage added on to the first half — and the later red card at 89 minutes created a clear cause-and-effect sequence: the goal swung momentum toward Santos, but the expulsion removed a central figure and constrained Santos tactically as the match reached its conclusion.
Collateral notes and page items
Beyond the pitch events, the match report appeared alongside other items of interest on the sports page: a note that Atlético Tucumán offered the coaching job to Julio Falcioni; a reference to the reason Fernando Ortiz did not attend a Superclásico press conference between Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile; comments from Carlos Tévez about Marcelo Gallardo’s departure; a result in which Wolves beat Aston Villa and affected Champions League hopes; confirmation of the final 16 teams for the 2025/26 Champions League; and a mention that FIFA could consider introducing a so-called 'Vinicius Law' to sanction players who cover their mouths when addressing opponents. These listings framed the wider football context around the Jornada 8 action.
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What makes this notable is how a single player produced both the match’s highlight and a moment that forced his team into a defensive recalibration; the equalizer at 45+6 altered momentum, but the red card at 89 directly reduced Santos to 10 men and shaped the closing minutes of a 2-2 draw at La Corregidora.
