Xoloitzcuintles Begin Copa MX Play at Home
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente has been part of historic and memorable competitions in its eight years of existence. Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions League are two of the biggest names. Coach Daniel Guzman’s team will again participate in another historic tournament.
The Xoloitzcuintles prepares to begin its participation in the Clausura 2015 edition of the Copa MX. The Xoloitzcuintles will host Club Necaxa January 21st at the Estadio Caliente at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
The Copa MX features teams from the First and Second Division in Mexican soccer, pairing them in different groups, playing home-and-home series. The season is divided into two segments, the Apertura and Clausura similar to the LIGA MX. The winners of each competition meet for a championship match to determine the third Mexico slot in the Copa Libertadores.
The Copa MX is not as highly regarded as other international tournaments but it is filled with history. The cup competition dates back to before professional football even existed in Mexico. Before the professional era began in 1943, Mexican football was played throughout the country in smaller regional leagues. The idea with the cup competition – founded in 1907 – was to determine a national champion and have different teams from various regional leagues compete in it.
Club Tijuana is off to a fast start in the LIGA MX tournament after a 1-0 win against defending champion Club America. The Xoloitzcuintles will face another defending champion in its next match.
Club Necaxa is a Liga de Ascenso (second division) side with a rich history in Mexican soccer. Founded in 1923 it is a three-time Liga MX champion, as well as three times champions in the Ascenso MX including the Apertura 2014 season making them the reigning champions of the second division.
In addition to the six league titles (three in first division, and three in second division), Necaxa is also the second highest Copa MX winner with seven titles, one behind Club Asturias who folded after winning the competition eight times.
Necaxa was originally from Mexico City and shared the Estadio Azteca with various different teams including sister team Club America, and Atlante FC. But in the fall of 2003 Necaxa was relocated to the city of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes.
The Rayados come into the match after winning the 2014 Apertura Liga de Ascenso title against Coras de Tepic. It has begun the 2015 Clausura in the Ascenso with a 3-1 win against Celaya and a 1-1 tie with Zacatecas last week.
Guzman has a plan for the Copa MX. The Xoloitzcuintles manager said he intends to use some starters during the tournament featuring teams from the First and Second Division.
Guzman said he will use Brazilian striker Ricardo Da Silva in some Copa MX games to get him playing time and a rhythm on the field. Da Silva joined the team this off-season and has played two games with Club Tijuana.
“We have a tough test,” Guzman said about hosting Club Necaxa in the first match of a home-and-home series Wednesday night at Estadio Caliente. “We are facing the Liga de Ascenso champion. It is a great measuring stick for us. I will use some of the younger players who have not played much so I can se which ones can help us during league play. I am going to take it very seriously and I will put in players that will help us and put in work.”
Club Tijuana went through its last practice before hosting Necaxa. The team worked on the grass field next to Estadio Caliente, focusing on the final details during a team scrimmage.
Guzman used Gibran Lajud as his goalkeeper it the first 11. Elio Castro, Oliver Ortiz, Christian Torres and Luis Garcia were the defenders. Javier Salas, Joe Corona, Edgar Villegas and Luis Chavez the midfielders while Henry Martin and Ricardo Da Silva were the strikers.
“We are ready and conscious that it will be a difficult game,” Lajud said. “We are a group of guys that haven’t played much in the league and this is a great opportunity for us. We know that we need to be strong at home to start the tournament. We all have the same responsibility. They have trusted in us and we need to respond with a win.”
The young Xoloitzcuintles are anxious to get on the field and show fans what they can do.
“We are doing great and we are very united,” said Salas. “Friday’s game was a good game. Our teammates played their souls out on the field and that has rubbed off un us and we are anxious to play Necaxa.”
