Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2019 Apertura Recap: Xolos road struggles continue vs. Atlas
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
The Tijuana Xolos played their fourth game in the Liga MX 2020 Clausura season this Friday, Jan. 31, as the border city team visited Atlas at the historic Estadio Jalisco. The Jalisco was celebrating a grim 60th anniversary on Friday night with no fans in the stands due to a one-match ban given because of homophobic chants by fans.
The stadium was silent, with only the shouting of the players and coaches present in the massive structure. The home team started the scoring in the 28th minute as Luciano Acosta scored an incredible goal off a free kick.
The foul given for the free kick was questionable, to say the least as the officiating in the match was very shaky. Towards the end of the half, Atlas had a goal that was overturned due to a questionable offside call as the spotty job by the referee continued.
The Xoloitzcuintles tied the match in the empty stadium in the 61st minute with a goal scored off a penalty by Camilo Sanvezzo. The penalty was awarded off a hand ball that was also very questionable as the subpar work by Jorge Isaac Rojas stayed consistent.
The game was very hard-fought after that goal as both teams scrambled to try and score the winning goal. Atlas ultimately prevailed in the 87th minute as Javier Correa scored from inside of the penalty box.
The goal by Correa was magnificent as he was aided by a perfect pass by midfielder Lorenzo Reyes. There were no fans to rejoice for the home team’s goal as the Atlas players celebrated with themselves with no response from anyone else.
The match ended 2-1 in Atlas’ favor at the Estadio Jalisco as the Xolos had no time to get back into the game after the second goal. Manager Gustavo Quinteros toggled with his lineup by starting players like Vladimir Lorona and Christian Rivera, but these changes proved to be ineffective.
Omar Mendoza, Erick Torres, and Angel Sepulveda came off the bench as they were unable to change the course of the game. The Xolos are now 0-2 away from home this season, with a 3-0 loss to Queretaro in Week 2 as well.
Club Tijuana’s road struggles have been consistent with the last two managers at the team, and Gustavo Quinteros has been unable to change that so far. The Xoloitzcuintles will look to bounce back next Friday, Feb. 7, as Tijuana hosts Toluca at the Estadio Caliente.
Resumen: Atlas vs Xolos – Jornada 4 – @LigaBBVAMX pic.twitter.com/NnqwhHtTh2
— Xolos (@Xolos) February 1, 2020
Xolos Lineup: Gibran Lajud, Vladimir Lorona, Miguel Barbieri, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Aldo Cruz, Alfonso Sanchez (58′ Angel Sepulveda), Christian Rivera, Ignacio Rivero, Mauro Lainez (78′ Mauro Lainez), Miller Bolanos, Camilo Sanvezzo (74′ Erick Torres)
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.