Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2019 Clausura Week 10 Recap: Xolos Play Worst Game Of Season, Fall 4-0 To Pachuca

Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

The Tijuana Xolos played their 10^th game of the Liga MX 2019 Clausura season this Saturday, March 10, at the Estadio Hidalgo against Pachuca. The game was one that Xolos fans, players and Oscar Pareja would like to forget as Club Tijuana suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat.

The Xolos’ backline had been consistent in recent weeks, but fell apart in this clash against Los Tuzos. The fullbacks Luis Martinez and Luis Fuentes especially struggled in the encounter as well as defensive midfielder Diego Rodriguez.

Pachuca started off the match with all guns blazing as Stiven Barreiro opened the scoring in just the ninth minute. The Colombian centre-back scored a header off a corner kick as the marking on the play was dreadful and allowed Barreiro to score.

The Xolos’ struggles on set pieces continued in the 14^th minute as Leonardo Ulloa was able to score off a free kick by Edwin Cardona. Cardona swung the ball into the penalty area and Oscar Murillo was able to deflect the sphere towards Ulloa, who made it a 2-0 game.

Los Tuzos continued their dominance in the second half and Edwin Cardona continued to shine as he scored two goals. First, in the 48^th minute, the Colombian midfielder scored beautifully from just inside of the box as Pachuca constructed a perfect counter-attack.

Then in the 53^rd minute, Cardona scored an almost identical goal from his first as the Xolos flaws in the backline were exposed. The marking on the play was woeful and what was even worse was Gibran Lajud’s clearance that was intercepted and not well executed at all that sparked the scoring play for Pachuca.

The Xoloitzcuintles were on a massive eight-game undefeated streak in all competitions heading into the match and suffered their worst loss of the season. The game was a reality check for the border city team that had been over exceeding expectations in recent weeks, showcasing just how competitive the Liga MX can be.

It's a final at Estadio Hidalgo. #GoXolos #ligamxeng pic.twitter.com/fjw9eHT7Mn

— Xolos (@xolos_en) March 10, 2019

Club Tijuana is still in sixth place with 16 points after the result and will now focus on the quarterfinals of the Copa MX as the Aztec Canines visit Monarcas Morelia this upcoming Tuesday, March 12.

Xolos’ Lineup: Gibran Lajud, Luis Martinez (45′ Diego Gonzalez), Julian Velazquez, Diego Braghieri, Luis Fuentes, DiegoRodriguez, Ignacio Rivero, Miller Boolanos (75′ Eryc Castillo), Jesus Angulo, Gustavo Bou (65′ Juan Carlos Valenzuela), Ariel Nahuelpan

Francisco Velasco

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.