WRITING HISTORY, INTO THE QUARTERFINALS
Club Tijuana 2-1 Palmeiras: 2013 Copa Bridgestone Libertadores; Rd of 16: Second Leg
SAO PAULO, Brazil -Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente scored goals in each half to beat Palmeiras of Brazil 2-1 in the second leg of the 2013 Copa Bridgestone Libertadores Round of 16 at Estadio Pacaembu Tuesday night.
The Xoloitzcuintles continue a historic run in the prestigious South American tournament winning the series against Palmeiras 2-1 on aggregate. Both teams played to a scoreless draw in the first leg at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana. Club Tijuana advances to the quarterfinals where it will face Atletico Mineiro of Brazil in Tijuana next week with the first match of another home-and-home serie.
The Xoloitzcuintles are the only Mexican team remaining in the 32-team tournament and are first time participants in the competition featuring some of the best teams in the Americas.
Colombian striker Duvier Riascos scored first for the Xoloitzcuintles in the 27th minute Tuesday, to give the visitors the lead when Palmeiras goalkeeper Bruno mishandled Riascos’ soft rolling shot. Fidel Martinez fed Riascos a pass before the Colombian sent his shot.
Fernando Arce scored in the 51st minute to give Coach Antonio Mohamed’s team a 2-0 lead. Arce sent a blast from about 20 yards out after a Palmeiras defender headed away a deep pass from Javier Gandolfi straight to Arce.
The goal came at a time in which Palmerias tried to pressure the Xoloitzcuintles early in the half. It was then when Palmeiras cut the Club Tijuana lead 2-1 after Alexsandro Souza converted a penalty kick in the 62nd minute. Pablo Aguilar was whistled for a handball after he headed a ball onto his raised left arm. The Xoloitzcuintles finished the match with 10 men after Aguilar was sent off for his second yellow card of the night in the 83rd minute.
Club Tijuana came into the match against Palmeiras after finishing the LIGA MX season, focusing on competing in the South American tournament. Mohamed’s squad returned to Sao Paulo after facing Corinthians here in the group stage.
The Xoloitzcuintles reached the knockout stage of the tournament after finishing second in Group 5 with 13 points behind Corinthians, who also had 13 points but held the tie breaker (better goal difference).
