Xoloitzcuintles Win 1-0 Against Rival Club Lion At Cal State Fullerton
Soccer News: A new coach, a new core of players, a new season. Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles began a new chapter in its Mexican soccer history.
The Ruben Romano era as head coach has begun and the Xoloitzcuintles kicked it off with a 1-0 win against hated rival Club Leon at Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton Friday night.
Antonio Madueña sent a Henry Martin pass in injury time to give the Xoloitzcuintles the win. Madueña sent in the Martin pass from the mouth of the goal near the left post, beating Leon goalkeeper Christian Martinez.
“I am very grateful to the institution that brought me home,” Madueña said about returning to Club Tijuana after spending a stint with Club America on loan. “I was glad I scored.”
It was a scoring play created by second half substitutes of a squad that went through a series of roster changes during the offseason. Romano saw his first action as the Xoloitzcuintles head coach, using six of the 10 off season acquisitions against Leon in what was Club Tijuana’s first of four preseason friendlies in the United States. Defenders Leiton Jimenez and Michael Orozco, midfielders Jose Cardenas, Rodrigo Salinas and Diego De Buen and strike Felipe Flores were in the starting 11. Each contributed to the win.
But it was the bench that helped find the back of the net after a night in which Club Tijuana pressured Leon, pushing its midfield and strikers up the field while Romano’s five-man backline remained mostly in tact.
Romano’s team came out looking to find a rhythm for its first soccer action since entering preseason-training camp three weeks ago. The team spent two of those on the beaches of Mazatlan before returning to Tijuana.
The Xoloitzcuintles looked to score early, creating a handful of opportunities. Perhaps its clearest came in the 15th minute when Gabriel Hauche poked the ball with his left foot from just inside the penalty area, sending his shot off the right post.
Colombian striker Dayro Moreno nearly scored in the 35th minute when he took a Hauche filtered pass and dribbled into the area. He tried getting past Leon goalkeeper Christian Martinez. Moreno tried chipping the ball over the goalkeeper but Martinez was able to slap it away.
Club Tijuana appeared to take the lead in the 85th minute when Martin sent a shot into the Leon net but he was whistled offsides. The goal was disallowed. The Xoloitzcuintles continued to pressure in the final minutes until the Henry-Madueña connections led to the Club Tijuana goal.
Leon, a rival since both teams played in the Mexican Second Division, looked to catch the Club Tijuana defense off guard with a handful of counter attacks that resulted in shots over the crossbar. Leon also pressured earlier in the game with shots by Ignacio Gonzalez and Luis Montes from outside the area. Xoloitzcuintles goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas, a Hilltop High in Chula Vista alumni, was able to make a save on both.
The “Panzas Verdes” thought they had taken a 1-0 lead when Gonzalo Rios crossed a shot from left to right into the left-wall of the net. The score was nullified as Rios was whistled offsides on the play.
The Xoloitzcuintles will return to Tijuana for more training before heading out to El Paso, Texas for a friendly against Cruz Azul July 8.
FINAL SCORE: XOLOS 1, LEON 0
