Fresh off a Liga MX semifinals appearance, Santos Laguna opened its own preseason in Salt Lake City for the first time since facing Club Tijuana (Xolos) in a friendly in 2016. While Club America is the most successful club in North American club soccer history, with more than 40 titles to its name, including 13 league crowns. The match was promoted as a homecoming to Utah by two clubs with ties to the state and their respective large fan bases there.

In the 11th minute, Roger Martinez scored the game's only goal, and Las Aguilas held on for a 1-0 win over Liga MX opponent Santos Laguna in Sandy, kicking off the club's first encounter in Utah since 2017. The goal was celebrated by a wall of yellow-clad supporters behind the south goal, who had been unable to carry streamers and balloons for several years due to numerous safety concerns.

The friendly brought thousands of fans from across the state Sunday to get to Rio Tinto Stadium in time for the 7 p.m. kickoff. On Wednesday, Club America will play Atlas at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, as part of the Tour Aguila. The preseason trip will come to a close on July 10 when Las Aguilas face Tigres UANL in San Antonio.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Abram Iman]