AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico (Interstat) — In a stunning offensive display that defied pregame projections, Necaxa dismantled Santos Laguna 4-1 on Friday night in a Liga MX match at Estadio Victoria.

The home side delivered a statement victory to open their season, scoring four unanswered goals in a dominant first-half performance that left the visiting Guerreros reeling. The final result was a dramatic departure from the narrow contest many anticipated, as statistical firm Interstat had simulated a 1-1 draw and gave Necaxa an 81 percent probability to win based on its ELO rating system.

Necaxa’s attack was relentless from the opening whistle, finding the net twice before the match was even a quarter of an hour old. The floodgates opened in the fifth minute when defender Bruno Amione, who started the match on the bench, headed in a goal to give the hosts an early lead.

The advantage doubled just six minutes later as forward Diber Cambindo added a second goal, putting Santos Laguna in a deep early hole. The visiting defense had no answer for Necaxa’s coordinated pressure and swift counter-attacks.

The first-half barrage continued near the midway point. Substitute Haret Ortega, who would finish the night as the most influential player on the pitch, extended the lead to 3-0 with a goal in the 36th minute. Ortega was not finished, turning provider just six minutes later by setting up forward Tomás Badaloni for Necaxa’s fourth goal in the 42nd minute.

The match went to halftime with Necaxa holding a commanding 4-0 lead, a margin that seemed to stun the visiting supporters.

Santos Laguna, which showed little offensive threat in the first half, managed to find a response after the break. In the 55th minute, forward Kevin Rosero scored a goal, breaking the shutout and providing the lone bright spot for the struggling Guerreros. The goal did little to change the match’s trajectory, however, as Necaxa comfortably saw out the remaining 35 minutes to secure the three points.

The match grew increasingly chippy as the second half progressed, with the referee issuing five yellow cards. Santos Laguna’s Jesús Ocejo was booked in the 38th minute, followed by a caution for his teammate Ramiro Sordo in the 45th. Necaxa’s goal-and-assist man Haret Ortega received a yellow card in the 47th minute, and Tomás Jacob of Necaxa was booked two minutes later. Santos Laguna’s Iván Rodríguez was shown a yellow in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

The lopsided result immediately impacts the early season standings. Necaxa begins its Liga MX campaign with a victory, starting the season with one win and zero losses. Santos Laguna, in contrast, is left to regroup after a defeat that leaves them with a record of zero wins and one loss to open their league schedule. The records in all competitions mirror the Liga MX results for both clubs.

Necaxa will look to build on this emphatic victory in its next fixture, while Santos Laguna faces urgent questions about its defensive solidity after a opening-night collapse.