CLUB TIJUANA REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE IN LIGA MX STANDINGS
Xoloitzcuintles have 19 points ahead of Club America and Cruz Azul after win vs. Pachuca. Crowd goes in to frenzy when Xolos win.
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles will remain in first place for another week regardless of other Saturday and Sunday LIGA MX results. The 3-2 come-from-behind win against visiting Pachuca FC put the Xoloitzcuintles at 19 points on top of the league table.
Juan Arango scored twice and Dayro Moreno scored another to help Club Tijuana come-from-behind and beat visiting Pachuca FC 3-2 Friday night at Estadio Caliente. Moreno sent in a soft touch pass by teammate Alfredo Moreno to complete the come back after Pachuca took a 2-0 lead midway through the second half. Arango scored on a free kick and on a rebound to tie the match and help set up the winning goal. It appeared the Xoloitzcuintles (Xolos) would save a point in the standings with a draw. Coach Daniel Guzman’s team instead extends an unbeaten streak to seven games with its sixth win of the season. Club Tijuana is now 6-1-1 with 19 points in the standings.
Dayro Moreno sent in the game-winner in injury time, sending the sold out crowd of 26,333 into frenzy. It also keeps the Xoloitzcuintles on top of the LIGA MX standings heading into the remainder of the weekend.
Arango tied the match in the 82nd minute when he put back a blocked shot from inside the penalty box. He cut Pachuca’s lead to 2-1 when he bent a left-footed free kick past goalkeeper Oscar Perez.
Pachuca went into halftime leading 2-0 after sending in goals from Diego de Buen (12th minute) and Rodolfo Pizarro (36th).
De Buen sent a ball in from the goal line off a corner kick. The ball bounced off de Buen’s legs into the net as Club Tijuana defender Gregory Garza tried to clear the ball.
Pachuca added to its lead when Rodolfo Pizarro buried a shot past Club Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo on a quick play.
The Xoloitzcuintles will travel to face Santos Laguna in a Week 9 match after playing in a Copa MX match against Leones Negros Tuesday March 3 at Estadio Caliente.
Below are some quotes and comments from Colombian striker Dayro Moreno, who sent the game-winner against Pachuca in stoppage time Friday night at Estadio Caliente. Argentine striker Alfredo Moreno helped set up the Club Tijuana third goal. He is also quoted below.
Dayro Moreno shared his thoughts on the Xolos vs.Pachuca FC match at Estadio Caliente. Here is what he said:
On scoring the game-winning goal in stoppage time after missing on several opportunities at goal earlier in the match:
“We had some opportunities that we couldn’t convert but we converted when it was needed. I am happy that we were able to get the result we needed. I was patient and was rewarded for it. I was just patient and waited for the ball and see what the play developed. It brought out a goal.”
On the team’s attitude and style of play this season:
“I have said it before that we owed ourselves something because we didn’t reach the playoffs last season. This is a team that works hard to get results. We prepared well in the preseason. This is very satisfying to see the results we are getting and that our fans are happy with what we are giving them.”
How the team has gotten better this season:
“You win it with a lot of work and sacrifice. We are 26 players and the coach has to choose the best ones and I am glad that we have a team with great players.”
On what’s next for the team in the LIGA MX:
“We take the win and move on, watch the film and prepare for Santos. It will be a tough match and all we can do is get ready for it.”
Alfredo Moreno shared his thoughts on the Xolos vs.Pachuca FC match at Estadio Caliente. Here is what he said:
On what he thought about the comeback win:
“This speaks volumes to what we all want. Everyone is playing well and Daniel (Guzman) will decide who will play and regardless of whom it is, he will leave it all on the field. W corrected some things and we were aware we were not doing well. We corrected and we were able to make it work.
On team not getting enough national media attention despite being in first place:
“We don’t need to worry about those type of things. We need to do what we need to do and focus on that and things will come out the way we want them to.”
On how important the win is:
“This is a very important win because we rescued a very difficult team when we were down 2-0 to a team that was playing very well. The team showed it had the will to win and that it was able to do what was needed to win.
On breaking down Pachuca in the second half and scoring:
“You have to want make the plays. Dayro (Moreno) and Juan (Arango) made them. They are great players.”
On how will the team try and replicate this win:
“We will analyze during the week and correct those errors, so we don’t need to come from behind.”
On what coach Guzman said to the team at halftime when team trailed 2-0:
“He told us we need to do what we’ve done in the past. We didn’t have the ball much and that’s not our character. We needed to change that and move forward with what we know.”
FINAL SCORE: XOLOS 3, PACHUCA 2
ROSTERS: Club Tijuana: 3. Javier Gandolfi, 4. Jesus Chavez, 6. Javier Guemez (Jose Ayovi 70th), 7. Gabriel Hauche, 10. Ricardo Da Silva (Alfredo Moreno 62nd minute) 13. Cirilo Saucedo, 17. Dayro Moreno, 18. Juan Arango, 22. Juan Carlos Nuñez, 23. Richard Ruiz, 24. Gregory Garza (Joe Corona 41st)
Goals scored by:
1-0 – 12th Diego de Buen –Pachuca
2-0 – 36th Rodolfo Pizarro -Pachuca
2-1 – 56th– Juan Arango –Tijuana
2-2 -82nd –Juan Arango –Tijuana
3-2 –Injury time –Dayro Moreno –Tijuana
CLUB TIJUANA 2015 CLAUSURA Match Wins/Loss:
Week 1
at Puebla FC
Saturday Jan. 10 (3 p.m.)
Stadium: Cuauhtémoc
LOSS 2-1
Week 2
- Club America
Friday Jan. 16 (7:30 p.m.)
Estadio Caliente
WIN 1-0
Week 3
at Tigres UANL
Saturday Jan. 24 (5 p.m.)
Estadio Universitario
WIN 2-1
Week 4
- Monarcas Morelia
Friday Jan. 30 (7:30 p.m.)
Estadio Caliente
WIN 4-2
Week 5
at Jaguares de Chiapas
Saturday Feb. 7 (5 p.m.)
Estadio Víctor Manuel Reyna
TIE 2-2
Week 6
- Pumas
Friday Feb. 13 (7:30 p.m.)
Estadio Caliente
WIN 3-0
Week 7
at Leones Negros
Sunday Feb. 22 (3 p.m.)
Estadio Jalisco
WIN 3-2
