Xoloitzcuintles Are Now 4-5 In LIGA MX 2015 Apertura
Soccer News: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles played to a 2-1 loss against host Club Leon in a Week 9 match of the LIGA MX 2015 Apertura Saturday night.
An own goal by Club Tijuana late in the first half and a Carlos Peña score in the 81st minute was enough for the Club Leon win. Xoloitzcuintles striker Dayro Moreno scored in injury time via a penalty kick. It was Moreno’s eight goal of the tournament but it wasn’t enough to mount a Xoloitzcuintles come back.
Instead, Club Tijuana remains at 12 points in the standings with a 4-5 record.
Leon took the lead on an own goal by Club Tijuana in the 45th minute. Juan Arango tried clearing a free kick by Luis Montes into the Xoloitzcuintles area but sent it into his own net. The play came seconds before the end of a first half that included few scoring opportunities by both teams.
The Xoloitzcuintles created few chances at goal in each half while Leon capitalized on defensive errors. Leon’s second goal came on an uncontested cross from Hernan Burbano. Xolos captain Javier Gandolfi couldn’t control it at his feet, finding an open Peña who buried his shot past Federico Vilar from just outside the penalty area.
Coach Ruben Romano’s team had a couple of those few opportunities late in the match when second half substitute Felipe Flores got a foot on a ball and sent it looking for the inside of the right post. Leon goalkeeper Christian Martinez dove to his left and swatted the ball away with his left fingertips. Moreno blasted a shot from outside the area moments later but Martinez once again dove to make the save.
Hernandez was not close to stopping Moreno’s penalty kick as the Colombian striker buried his shot to the left of Hernandez for a team-leading and his eighth goal of the tournament.
Club Leon, the first place team in the LIGA MX heading into the rest of the weekend, also had close calls. It nearly scored twice if it wasn’t for Xoloitzcuintles goalkeeper Vilar blocking a couple of shots wit his chest. He stopped a Mauro Boselli shot in the 21st minute and another in the 39th minute.
The Xolos return to Tijuana next Friday for a Week 10 match against Jaguares de Chiapas at Estadio Caliente.
Photos Courtesy of Club Tijuana
