Photos: Gerardo García / TJ Sports
Tijuana Xolos 3 : 1 Veracruz
Tijuana Xolos inflicted Veracruz’s first defeat of the Clausura season with three goals to the visitors’ one from the penalty spot. The home side move to 23 points, 4 ahead of their conquered guests.
Goals from Alfredo Moreno, the excellent Juan Arango and Gabriel Hauche proved to much for the side from the Yucatan peninsula.
The Argentinian Hauche lolled about on the left wing and maintained a constant threat although he had a less influential first half than may have been hoped.
The star of the evening though was undoubtedly Juan Arango whose style could best be described as loping. Ungainly would be kind but he showed an immense ability to get into dangerous spaces without being seen by anyone except his colleague with the ball, or stopped by anyone without it.
In 17, it was Moreno of the Alfredo variety who opened the scoring after corner bizarrely defended by Edgar Hernandez, who was perhaps fooled by Dayro Moreno’s deceptively short backlift.
The lead barely lasted. A crude body check on Daniel Villalva by Javier Gandolfi led to a clear penalty. Fernando Menses equalised from the penalty spot
An off ball incident raised home hackles when Veracruz captain Leobardo Lopez impeded Alfredo. The official missed it but it was hard to tell if Akfredo Moreno made a meal of it. An Edgar Hernandez double save denied Xolos before half time before one last blasted over effort emphasized that Xolos had finished the half, as they started it, the stronger side.
That may have explained why coach Carlo Reynoso withdrew two players, Paganoni and Vasquez, and introduced Adrian Cortes and Luis Sanchez. It mattered not. The Xolos grew stronger and their supremacy paid dividends in the 58th minute.
Juan Arango had a variety of options from a direct free kick conceded by Jimenez but needed none of them and curled the ball majestically home.
The visitor hopes briefly flickered but Saucedo in the Xolos goal was able to produce a great save from a Sanchez header on 63′. Eight minutes later it was all over.
Man of the match Arango fired a tracer bullet at Hernandez who could only parry. Hauche was even deadlier with the rebound to give Xolos a 3-1 lead and settle the matter. This finally silenced a noisy contingent from Veracruz although they sure made a lot of noise for 60 people and one drum.
With the win safe, Greg Garza replaced his compatriot Joe Corona in the 79th minute. He showed some deft skill on the left touchline but was also booked for a lunge on Luis Sanchez.
He said after the game he was looking forward to the friendly in Seattle but still harbored hopes of being in Europe with the US national team.
ROSTERS:
Club Tijuana: 3. Javier Gandolfi, 4. Jesus Chavez, 6. Javier Guemez, 7. Gabriel Hauche, 9. Alfredo Moreno 13. Cirilo Saucedo, 15. Joe Corona, 17. Dayro Moreno, 18. Juan Arango, 22. Juan Carlos Nuñez, 23. Richard Ruiz
Veracruz: 3. Leiton Jimenez, 8. Gabriel Peñalba, 9. Daniel Villalva, 11. Julio Furch, 13. Edgar Hernandez, 17. Emmanuel Garcia, 18. Edgar Andrade, 20. Fernando Meneses, 23. Leobardo Lopez, 28. Jesus Paganoni, 31. Ricardo Vazquez
