POSITIVE STREAK
Club Tijuana 0-0 Cruz Azul; LIGA MX-2013 Apertura Week 9
TIJUANA -Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente earned another point in the standings after playing to a scoreless draw against visiting Cruz Azul in a Week 11 match of the LIGA MX-2013 Apertura Friday night at a sold out Estado Caliente.
The tie gives Club Tijuana 13 points in the tournament with seven games to play. The Xoloitzcuintles remain unbeaten at Estadio Caliente after six games at home.
Against Cruz Azul, the Xoloitzcuintles came close to sending in a game winner on several occasions. Perhaps its clearest came when Pablo Aguilar sent a header just wide of the left post off a Raul Enriquez free kick in the 64thminute. Enriquez nearly scored himself when he sent a bending right-footed shot from inside the penalty area, looking for the right post. But Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona was there to dive and slap the ball away.
The Xoloitzcuintles (3-3-4) continued to try and inflict its style of play on the Mexico City team throughout the match, looking to pressure with its attack. Coach Jorge Almiron’s team was able to recover balls and keep position, keeping Cruz Azul (5-4-2, 17 points) away from creating any threats for Club Tijuana’s goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo.
“The team did everything it could to win but we couldn’t get a goal,” Almiron said. “We played against a great rival and the team played well. We had scoring chances but we couldn’t finish them.”
Almiron started the game with Saucedo, Javier Gandolfi, Juan Carlos Nunez, Edgar Castillo, Cristian Pellerano, Fernando Arce, Javier Guemez, Richard Ruiz, Fidel Martinez, Aguilar and Benedetto. Enriquez cameo on for Benedetto, who left with an injury and Greg Garza came on for Ruiz in the second half.
With that line up and substitutions, Almiron kept pressure on Cruz Azul, looking for the possible game winner late in the match with a handful of attacks. Club Tijuana kept a rhythm throughout the match as it used a series of connecting passes to keep possession for most of the game.
“We just couldn’t find the net,” Almiron said.
The Xoloitzcuintles will now look to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament Thursday Sept. 26 when it hosts CD Victoria in a Week 4 match of the international competition.
Coach Jorge Almiron’s team will then return to LIGA MX action Sunday Sept. 29 in Puebla in a Week 12 match.
