Tijuana Xolos: Dayro Moreno Ends Season as Top Scorer & Champion in Colombia
At the beginning of the Liga MX Clausura 2017 tournament, the Tijuana Xolos suffered a huge loss to their squad.
It was announced that Tijuana’s top scorer and superstar, Dayro Moreno, was going to depart the border city side and go back home to play in Colombia.
Moreno joined one of the most potent teams in his home country, Atletico Nacional.
The team from Medellin had won the Copa Colombia in 2016, but failed to win the league and were looking for a consistent scorer like Moreno to add to their squad.
The Xolos ended up doing fine without the Colombian striker with players like Aviles Hurtado, Milton Caraglio, and Ignacio Malcorra emerging as crucial players in the attack. The 31-year-old had already been very successful in his home country, being a four-time top scorer.
Moreno had a spectacular season with Atletico Nacional, obtaining his fifth scoring title, scoring 14 goals.
The former Xolos’ star was also vital in the Colombian Primera A final against Deportivo Cali.
The first leg of the final was grim for Los Verdolagas, falling 2-0 to Deportivo Cali away from home. Atletico Nacional quickly turned things around in the second leg, annihilating Deportivo Cali by a score of 5-1. Moreno managed to score a goal via a penalty for Atletico Nacional’s fourth goal of the game that put an end to any chance of a comeback by Deportivo Cali. Moreno won his fifth scoring title in Colombia and Atletico Nacional achieved its sixteenth league title.
The season was a productive and spectacular one for Moreno out on loan in Colombia.
Moreno is set to spend next season in Colombia as well, but it is still unclear if he will return to Tijuana after his loan deal is done. The Xolos could still use the consistent Colombian scorer, but with the talented players that have emerged in the club, he is not a necessity for success in the border city.
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.