Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2018 AP Week 7 Recap: Is It Time To Worry After Loss To Veracruz
Credit: Liga MX
Veracruz, Mexico
The Tijuana Xolos played their seventh game in the Liga MX 2018 Apertura on Saturday, Aug. 25, as the Border City Dogs visited Veracruz. The match was set to be a simple encounter for the border city side, but it did not turn out to be that way.
Veracruz was able to get a very early lead in the seventh minute and it went on to last the whole game. Bryan Carrasco sent in a cross that found Diego Chavez and the Mexican midfielder sent the ball to the back of the net with a header.
The play appeared to be offsides, but the referee did not see it that way and the Xolos had a very early deficit. The Xolos ended the first half with 60-percent possession, but no shots on target, while Veracruz had only one shot on target that proved to be the game-winner.
The Aztec Canines had 67-percent possession in the second half and 14 total shots, but nothing to show for it. The attack was very ineffective with Juan Martin Lucero, and Erick Torres did not do much when he was subbed in.
The attack started to look lively when Fabian Castillo came into the match, but was still unable to get past Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Club Tijuana finished the match with 64-percent possession, eight corner kicks, and just four shots on target.
Juan Martin Lucero, Miller Bolanos, and Erick Torres finished the match with no shots on target as the offense continued its struggles. The midfield duo of Diego Rodriguez and Diego Gonzalez also proved to be ineffective as the defense was not tested much in the game.
Xolos’ Starting Lineup: Gibran Lajud, Omar Mendoza, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Gustavo Canto, Luis Fuentes, Jesus Angulo (57’ Fabian Castillo), Diego Rodriguez (74’ Ignacio Rivero), Diego Gonzalez, Eryc Catillo, Miller Bolanos, Juan Martin Lucero (79’ Erick Torres)
Main Talking Point: Is it time to worry?
The Xolos are now winless in their last six games and are currently sitting in 16th place with just six points from seven games. Club Tijuana could even be in penultimate place by the end of the weekend if Lobos BUAP manages to defeat Queretaro. The Border City Dogs have only scored more than a goal twice this season and have been shut out three times. The Xoloitzcuintles failed to score against Veracruz on Saturday night, which is still the worst defensive team in the Liga MX, and the current state of the offense is definitely worrying. There is still hope with players like Fabian Castillo and Eryc Castillo, but as it stands, it may be time to worry.
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.