Xolos remain winless with 1-1 draw against Necaxa

Club Tijuana continued their winless streak in the 2023 Liga MX Clausura season with a 1-1 result in an away match against Necaxa.

In a game where the Xolos could not protect a 1-0 lead that was gained in the first minute of the match. 

That first opportunity for the Xolos came very early in the match as they rushed down the field after an intercepted ball was sent to forward. Alexis Canelo received the pass just outside the goal box before sending a cross to the center of the box for forward Braian Romero, who could have been called offside, but instead, the ball was intercepted by defender Juan Pablo Segovia. The Necaxa defender attempted to clear it right in front of the goal but sent it over the goalkeeper’s head into his own net, making it 1-0 with only 34 seconds played.

Midfielder Kevin Castañeda was injured in the 26th minute when Necaxa’s Heriberto De Jesus was pushed from behind, forcing his entire body to land on Castañeda’s planted leg sending him down immediately before having to be carted off the field, where he watched the rest of the match with ice taped to his leg. 

No more goals occurred on either side during the rest of the first half as Club Tijuana had very few offensive chances shooting the ball only five times, with only one of those shots being on target. While on the other end of the pitch, Necaxa stayed on the attack for most of the half, shooting much more successfully with four shots on target. 

At the start of the second half, the Xolos came out strong with many more offensive chances as Braian Romero nearly scored a great chip shot in the 60th minute that was rightfully called offside. 

Though that didn’t last long, instead Necaxa’s persistent attack finally produced a result in the 71st minute of the match with a well-placed header from Agustín Oliveros, who scored completely unmarked in the center of the box sent to the opposite post grazing the hand of diving Antonio Rodriguez making it 1-1. 

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Following the equalizer, neither team got much done, and both teams received multiple yellow cards. Federico Lértora, midfielder for Club Tijuana, received two in the second half, first from time wasting in the 78th minute, then another because of a high kick that hit an opposing player in the leg.

The mistake by the midfielder could prove to be costly next week as he will be unavailable to play in the next match as the Xolos continue to search for their first win when they return home to take on San Luis in Estadio Caliente at 7:10 p.m. PST. 

Abraham Zepeda

Abraham Zepeda is a bilingual Chula Vista Native covering the Tijuana Xolos for EVT. He spent the summer of 2022 covering San Diego Loyal SC and San Diego Wave FC. He is also currently a student at the University of Oregon pursuing a degree in journalism.