Tijuana Xolos: Border City Dogs Finished Preseason Undefeated
Credit: EVT Sports
Tijuana, Mexico
The Tijuana Xolos start their 2018 Apertura season this upcoming Saturday, July 21, and will be heading into that match against Chivas de Guadalajara in very good form.
The Aztec Canines played a total of five preseason games ahead of the new Liga MX tournament and did not lose a single encounter. This included some clashes against some respectable opponents like Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM.
The first of the five preseason games ended in a scoreless draw against Cruz Azul in Irvine, California on June 30.
Then on July 3, the Prehistoric Dogs hosted Pumas UNAM at the Estadio Caliente and tied 1-1. Four days later, Club Tijuana played another friendly at the Mictlan and again tied 1-1, but this time against Costa Rican team Herediano.
The Xoloitzcuintles would then head north and play Monarcas Morelia in Sacramento and this time would end up with a 2-1 win. The final preseason clash came on July 14 against Dorados de Sinaloa at the Estadio Caliente and the Aztec Canines would walk away with a comfortable 3-0 win.
These results can be taken with a grain of salt, but may also play in the Xolos’ favor in terms of momentum. There are some takeaways from these friendlies like the fact that Diego Cocca seems to have his backline set up. The back four seems like it will consist of Luis Fuentes, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Julian Velazquez and Omar Mendoza.
It also seems like the midfield will have plenty of depth with players like Ignacio Rivero, Luis Chavez, Diego Gonzalez and Diego Rodriguez. Cocca has plenty of options in the middle of the park and it also seems like he has quite a few going forward.
However, the Argentine manager has given great confidence in the preseason to Erick Torres and Juan Martin Lucero and that will be the likely strike force throughout the season.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.