Xolos fall 2-1 to Club America as Tijuana is still winless with Miguel Herrera
Credit: Xolos
The Tijuana Xolos played Club America this Sunday, Feb.19, 2023, for a game in the eighth round of matches in the Liga MX 2023 Clausura season. Club Tijuana was heading into this game off a 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara and was really in need of a positive result from this match.
However, that did not happen as the Xoloitzcuintles fell 2-1 to Club America at the Estadio Azteca as manager Miguel Herrera is now winless in two games in charge of the border city team. “Piojo” made three changes to his lineup that lost to Chivas for this game as Leonel Lopez, Francisco Contreras, and Fernando Valenzuela all started the match.
Lopez replaced Eduardo Armenta, Contreras replaced Alejandro Martinez, and Valenzuela replaced the injured Joaquin Montecinos. Club Tijuana was definitely not the favorite heading into this match, as it has been over ten years since the last time Xolos defeated Club America at the Estadio Azteca.
The Aztec Canines began the game promisingly with a shot by Alexis Canelo in the fifth minute that was stopped by America goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez. However, in the 11th minute of the match, America’s Diego Valdes released a powerful strike that was saved by Antonio Rodriguez. The Xolos shot-stopper was able to get a hand to the ball, and the sphere ended up crashing into the post and out of play.
In the 15th minute, Fernando Valenzuela stole the ball from Miguel Layun, and the Argentine was able to dribble the ball into America’s penalty area, but he released a shot that was not well-located and subsequently fell out of bounds. The match was a good back and forth contest as Club America had a few opportunities before Leonardo Suarez released a powerful shot that was stopped by Antonio Rodriguez in the 21st minute.
The Xolos goalkeeper was key throughout the match as he stopped a shot from Henry Martin in the 28th minute to keep the game scoreless. One of the best scoring opportunities for Club America came in the 35th minute, as Henry Marrtin was able to send a cross in between three Xolos players that was almost connected by Jonathan Rodriguez. The Uruguayan forward just missed the ball as the game remained scoreless at the Estadio Azteca after several scoring chances by Las Aguilas.
Club America was finally able to break through in the 39th minute of the game as Leo Suarez released a potent strike off a free kick that left Antonio Rodriguez motionless for the 1-0 lead. The ball was perfectly located by Suarez in the top left corner of the goalpost, and there was absolutely nothing that Rodriguez could do about it.
A couple of minutes after the goal, Club Tijuana almost tied the score with a header by Rodrigo Godinez off a free kick well-executed by Leonel Lopez. The header fell just wide by Godinez as the home team maintained the lead and almost extended it before the first half ended.
Henry Martin released a shot inside of the Xolos’ penalty area, but once again, Antonio Rodriguez came to Club Tijuana’s rescue as the first half ended 1-0 in America’s favor. The Xoloitzcuintles had a fairly decent defensive performance in the first half with a couple of scoring opportunities, but Club America was the far better team with six shots on target.
The second half started as the first half ended as Club America seemed determined to extend their lead. The Mexico City team was successful as Henry Martin ran down the right wing and put in a perfect cross to Diego Valdes in between two of Tijuana’s defenders. The Chilean midfielder finished the opportunity in front of Xolos’ net to make it a 2-0 advantage for Los Azulcremas.
The game’s decisive moment came in the 68th minute when Misael Dominguez replaced Leonel Lopez. After 23 seconds on the pitch, Dominguez received a straight red card for a kick to Diego Valdes as the Xoloitzcuintles were left with ten men on the pitch.
The border city club was able to score with ten men as Alejandro Martinez sent a powerful shot outside of the penalty area that found the back of the net. Lucas Cavallini sent the assist in the scoring play as the Canadian striker made an impact, coming off the bench.
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It is clear that Cavallinin is deserving of a starting role at the border city team as Miguel Herrera still searches for his ideal starting 11. The game ended 2-1 in Club America’s favor in what was a very hard-fought clash at the historic Estadio Azteca.
Xolos still has just seven points after the two-game road trip but is now in 14th place after eight games played this season. Club Tijuana has just one win in the 2023 Clausura campaign, which came with interim manager Cirilo Saucedo as Miguel Herrera still seeks his first win of 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.