Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2019 Apertura Recap: Xolos draw to Atlas, but lose three players
Tijuana, Mexico
The Tijuana Xolos played their Week 13 Liga MX 2019 Apertura matchup this Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Estadio Caliente. The Aztec Canines hosted Atlas in what was expected to be a very hard-fought match, and it proved to be that way.
Facundo Barcelo opened the scoring in the 41st minute of the match with a header off a cross by Mauricio Cuero shortly after the Xoloitzcuintles were able to tie the game with a penalty scored by Leonel Miranda in injury time in the first half.
The first half proved to be very intense but was nothing compared to what the second half would bring at the Mictlan. Club Tijuana regained the lead in the 69th minute with a goal by Camilo Sanvezzzo. Ariel Nahuelpan smashed the ball on the post and Sanvezzo was there on the rebound to put the ball in the back of the net.
The tide would turn for the Xoloitzcuintles shorty after as Ariel Nahuelpan was given a red card. The card was very controversial as the Argentine did not even seem to be looking at the Atlas’ player. The home crowd was clearly upset as the Aztec Canines fell to 10 men with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Things would go even worse for the border city team as both Kevin Balanta, and Camilo Sanvezzo received red cards in the 90th minute. The Xoloitzcuintles were down to eight men as the fans were completely losing it in the stands.
Shortly after the suspensions, Atlas was able to tie the game in injury time as Faberth Balda fired a shot from range to make it 2-2. The home fans were obviously very upset but decided to throw beer at the Atlas’ players when they celebrated their goal.
The Xolos’ fans were utterly out of control by the end of the match and even resulted in chanting homophobic slurs at the referee. The Liga MX is currently working on eliminating this type of behavior at stadiums, and this could result in a severe sanction for Club Tijuana.
The game was a disaster for the Xoloitzcuintles, and it could get even worse for the border city team if sanctions are applied. Even if a point was won, this was a loss and a significant one at that for the Border City Dogs and its fan base.
Xolos’ lineup: Gibran Lajud, Julian Velazquez, Jordan Silva, Omar Mendoza (66′ Ignacio Rivero), Aldo Cruz, Kevin Balanta, Leonel Miranda, Mauro Lainez (76′ Diego Braghieri), Angel Sepulveda (62′ Camilo Sanvezzo), Miller Bolanos, Ariel Nahuelpan
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.