Querétaro - Santos: Gruezo scores spectacular first goal for Santos but is sent off as match ends 2-2
In Jornada 8 of the Torneo Clausura 2026, the querétaro - santos fixture finished in a 2-2 draw at Estadio La Corregidora, a result that mattered for both teams in the early phase of the season. The match produced a standout moment — a long-range equalizer by Carlos Gruezo — and a game-changing dismissal in the final ten minutes.
Querétaro - Santos: Gruezo’s 45+6' golazo changed the scoreline
Santos Laguna’s Ecuadorian midfielder Carlos Gruezo scored a spectacular equalizer at 45+6 minutes, converting a set-piece sequence that began with a Luca Di Yorio header that knocked the ball down for the midfielder. Gruezo’s powerful shot from distance clipped the top corner, described in the stadium as an impossible finish for the Querétaro goalkeeper. The strike lifted the few visiting fans present and has been called one of the best goals of the round; it also registered as Gruezo’s first goal with Santos Laguna.
Carlos Gruezo: from match-winner to red card at 89'
What makes this notable is that the same player who produced the week’s highlight also saw his afternoon end in controversy. At 89 minutes Gruezo received a straight red card for a foul the referee judged to be serious, leaving Santos with 10 men in the closing moments. He had been singled out for his role in both containment and creative play prior to the sending-off, and he left the field amid protests as the visitors lost any numerical parity in the decisive phase.
Jhojan Julio completed 90 minutes for Querétaro
On the Querétaro side, Colombian midfielder Jhojan Julio played the full 90 minutes, providing sustained dynamism and constant pressure on the visiting defense. Julio did not record a goal or an assist in the match but was described as fundamental to keeping balance and generating danger. The Gallos Blancos also had Michael Carcelén unavailable: he was not considered for the fixture because of a muscular injury.
Match context and immediate effects on both teams
The 2-2 draw at La Corregidora means Santos Laguna salvaged a point as the visiting side in Jornada 8 of the Liga MX Torneo Clausura 2026, while Querétaro kept their home ground from yielding three points. Gruezo’s red card (cause) directly resulted in Santos finishing with 10 players (effect) during the final minutes, constraining any late push for a winner. The absence of Michael Carcelén for Querétaro was listed as a muscular injury, which affected the home team’s available options for selection.
Additional football developments and wider headlines
Elsewhere in the football landscape, Atlético Tucumán reportedly offered the managerial position to Julio Falcioni. The reason why Fernando Ortiz did not attend the Superclásico press conference is unclear in the provided context. Carlos Tévez has spoken about Marcelo Gallardo’s departure, and in England Wolves delivered a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Molineux that dented Villa’s Champions League hopes and allowed Wolves to surpass Derby County’s record-low Premier League points tally.
Press notes, competitions and regulatory matters
Today's papers featured headlines touching on Inter’s Scudetto ambitions, a new-look Juventus, cautionary notes about Harry Kane, Atalanta described as ‘without fear’ and an ‘Euroderby’ dream; Europa League listings included Bologna vs. Roma, Conference League mention of Fiorentina vs. Raków, and a fixture listing of Genoa at San Siro with a kickoff listed at 20: 45 under the line “Chivu commands. ” Separately, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) is holding its annual meeting on Saturday and will discuss a proposal to cut down on time-wasting in football.
For record and rights purposes linked to coverage of the Gruezo goal, the Registro de Propiedad Intelectual number 4627007 is listed, and the intellectual property owner is Arte Gráfico Editorial Argentino S. A., with copyright attribution for 1996–2026.
The querétaro - santos meeting at La Corregidora will be replayed in highlights and remembered for a rare combination: a player’s first goal for his club that was immediately followed by a straight red card, a sequence that shifted the tone of the final minutes and left both teams to assess the point gained or dropped as the Clausura reaches its next rounds.
