Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2019 Apertura Recap: Xolos fall 3-0 to FC Juarez in dismal performance
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
The Tijuana Xolos played their Liga MX 2019 Apertura Week 17 game this Sunday, Nov. 3, as the Aztec Canines played FC Juarez away from home. Club Tijuana were the favorites heading into this match, but the Xolos’ consistent road struggles caught up with the team.
Manager Oscar Pareja did make some changes to last week’s starting lineup, which clearly made a negative impact on the team. The first goal of the game came just before halftime as Diego Rolan scored from the penalty spot to give FC Juarez a 1-0 lead.
The second goal of the night for Juarez came in the 50th minute as Gibran Lajud deflected a long shot, but the ball found Leandro Carrijo inside of the penalty area, and he was somehow able to head the sphere into the back of the net. The goal was the product of several defensive miscues inside of the penalty area as Carrijo was given way too much space.
Pareja made his first substitutions of the match in the 55th minute as he replaced midfielder Kevin Balanta with forward Camilo Sanvezzo and also took off Jorge Rojas for Mauro Lainez, but it was too late at this point. FC Juarez made it 3-0 in the 57th minute as Jefferson Intriago scored off a free-kick.
Xolos’goalkeeper Gibran Lajud could have arguably done better on the play as the Mexican shot-stopper had a lackluster game overall. Pareja’s last sub of the game came in the 82nd minute as Angel Sepulveda replaced Ariel Nahuelpan, but this proved to be ineffective as well.
The game ended 3-0 in Juarez’s favor at the border city town, as this was arguably the Xolos’ worst performance of the season. The Xoloitzcuintles have struggled on the road all season, but luckily for Oscar Pareja and company, the last two games of the regular season will be at the Estadio Caliente.
Club Tijuana is currently in eighth place with 24 points, as there are still nine teams in the hunt for the last two playoff spots in the Liga MX. Tijuana’s next game will be at home against Monterrey in Week 18 this next Friday, Nov. 8.
Highlights from tonight’s match…#UnidosSomosMásPerros pic.twitter.com/gRQ5SKrg8o
— Xolos (@xolos_en) November 4, 2019
Xolos’ Lineup: Gibran Lajud, Aldo Cruz, Diego Braghieri, Julian Velazquez, Vladimir Lorona, Kevin Balanta (55′ Camilo Sanvezzo), Leonel Miranda, Ignacio Rivero, Jorge Rojas (55′ Mauro Lainez), Miller Bolanos, Ariel Nahuelpan (82′ Angel Sepulveda)
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.