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Vivian Ikechukwu’s brace not enough as Santos Laguna fall to Pumas
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward Vivian Ikechukwu scored twice but could not prevent Santos Laguna from suffering a 5-3 home defeat to UNAM Pumas in a chaotic Round 9 clash of the Liga MX Femenil Apertura.
The 28-year-old striker struck in the 9th and 22nd minutes, pulling her side level on both occasions after Pumas had taken the lead.
Despite her heroics, Santos fell apart late on, conceding twice in stoppage time.
The visitors drew first blood through Stephanie Ribeiro in the 8th minute, but Ikechukwu responded almost immediately for the hosts.
Nayely Bolaños restored Pumas’ advantage in the 12th minute, before Ikechukwu again hauled Santos level with her second of the night.
After halftime, Ribeiro completed her brace to make it 3–2, but an own goal from Paola Chavero in the 78th minute appeared to rescue Santos.
The drama reached fever pitch in added time. Santos were reduced to ten players after Areli Reyes was sent off, and Pumas capitalized, with Ribeiro completing her hat-trick in the 90th minute before Ximena Ríos added a fifth moments later.
Ikechukwu two goals increased her tally to four in 8 appearances this season.
Santos Laguna’s four losses in last five matches put the team 15th place, 4 points, just one above the drop zone.
Despite Ikechukwu’s rich vein of form — scoring in three consecutive games — Santos Laguna remain in crisis, with defensive lapses undermining their attacking efforts.
They next face Necaxa on Friday, hoping to stop the slide and spark a turnaround.
