Tijuana Xolos Set to Play Club Santos Laguna in Utah
The Tijuana Xolos will travel to Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah to play Liga MX side Club Santos Laguna as the Mexican club continues its international presence in the United States. The Xolos return to Utah following a matchup against Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake in 2014.
Soccer News: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles continues to be an international entity, as it will again play in Sandy, Utah. This time, the Xoloitzcuintles travel to the United States for a friendly match against fellow LIGA MX side Club Santos Laguna June 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Club Tijuana and Santos face off at the home of Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake in an 8 p.m. (Mountain) start. It will be the second time Club Tijuana plays at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Xoloitzcuintles visited Utah in August of 2014, playing to a 1-1 tie against Real Salt Lake in a battle between LIGA MX and MLS clubs.
Club Tijuana is led by coach Miguel Herrera, who coached the Mexican National Team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, advancing to the Round of 16, and led “El Tri” to a CONCACAF Gold Cup title last summer. Founded in 2007, the Xoloitzcuintles won its first LIGA MX title in the 2012 Apertura, winning the “Liguilla” (playoffs) to become the youngest and quickest team to win a Mexican league title. Club Tijuana currently have six players with United States National Team ties, including internationals Greg Garza, Michael Orozco and former LA Galaxy youth product Paul Arriola, as well as U.S. U-17 standout Alejandro Guido.
Santos Laguna is based in Torreon, Mexico, having recently advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) Semifinals, losing to eventual champion Club America. Santos, also known as “Los Guerreros,” advanced into the CCL tournament by securing the 2015 Clausura Champion slot. It will make its Rio Tinto Stadium debut this Summer, but did appear on Utah soil back in July, 2008, defeating Real Salk Lake, 4-1, in a friendly at Rice-Eccles Stadium, weeks before the MLS side moved to Sandy.
Tickets to the June 24 match go on sale for the general public Monday May 9 at 10 a.m. (Mountain) via the Real Salt Lake ticket office at here.
In addition to the game on Friday June 24, fans will have the opportunity to interact with both clubs on Thursday, June 23 with a pair of open training sessions at Rio Tinto Stadium. Autograph sessions with both teams as well as an official Meet-and-Greet that evening with iconic Xolos manager Miguel Herrera will also be part of the festivities.
Source/Photo Credit: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles
