Santos Laguna scored two first half goals on its way to a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series at Estadio Corona.
Santos Lagunas three-goal victory secured a 3-1 aggregate series win for the Mexican club and a trip to the Champions League semifinals.
The Dynamo are eliminated from the competition, falling short of reaching the third Champions League semifinal in club history.
Juan Pablo Rodriguez opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute. Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall stopped the midfielders penalty kick with an outstretched leg, but the rebound caromed off the cross bar and bounced in front of goal, where Rodriguez drove the loose ball over the goal line under pressure from Adam Moffat.
Herculez Gomez handed Santos an aggregate series lead five minutes later. Nestor Calderon drove a ball in behind the Houston defense, and Gomez beat Bobby Boswell to the ball before firing a shot past Hall, who was charging to meet Gomez at the top of the box. Gomez first-touch shot stayed just inside the far post for a 2-0 lead and 2-1 aggregate series advantage.
Santos completed the scoring in the 77th minute. Osmar Mares received a short pass from a Santos free kick and lofted a cross near the back post, where Marc Crosas slotted a shot inside the post for a 3-0 advantage in the game and 3-1 series lead.
The Dynamo had chances to cut into the deficit, including a Boniek Garcia cross that Brian Ching headed over the cross bar from eight yards.
Earlier, a corner kick from Brad Davis was met by Ricardo Clark, but his header between two defenders was wide of goal.
It was Bobby Boswells 26th game in international competition with the Dynamo. He is now tied with Wade Barrett for fourth on the franchise list.
It was Brad Davis 20th start in international competition with the Dynamo. Davis passed Pat Onstad and is now tied with Brian Mullan for seventh on the franchise list.
The Dynamo resume Major League Soccer play on Sunday as they face FC Dallas in the Texas Derby at FC Dallas Stadium. The match begins at 12 p.m. on ESPN 2.
