XOLOITZCUINTLES EARN POINT IN OPENER
Club Tijuana 0-0 Atlas FC; LIGA Bancomer MX- 2014 Clausura: Week 1
GUADALAJARA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente played began the Cesar Farias coaching era with a scoreless tie against host Atlas FC in the LIGA Bancomer MX-2014 Clausura opener Saturday night at Estadio Jalisco.
The Xoloitzcuintles began the new tournament in the Mexican First Division by earning a point in the standings after playing in a tight match against Atlas FC behind standout defensive plays, including a handful by Club Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper kept the match scoreless when he stopped an Atlas FC penalty kick in the 29th minute. Saucedo dove to his left, blocking Edson Rivera’s shot. Saucedo also made diving saves in the 4th and 65th minute. Saucedo’s first standout save came when he dove to his left punching away a Jair Barraza shot. Saucedo also sent away a bending shot from 25-yards out on a breakaway.
Club Tijuana, wearing its new white away jersey, pressured Atlas with a stout defense and an offensive attack that led to a handful of scoring chances. Fernando Arce sent a free kick whistling just over the crossbar in the 21st minute from about 30 yard out. Joe Corona had a couple of attempts of his own in the first half, sending one shot from inside the area into a defender. He also tried a bending ball from about 30-yards out but it hit a defender, redirecting the shot.
In his official debut with Club Tijuana and his first match as head coach in Mexican soccer, Farias of Venezuela sent out a team looking to be offensive from the start while being quick to drop back and defend.
Farias used Saucedo at goalkeeper, Javier Gandolfi, Juan Carlos Nunez, Hernan Pellerano and Greg Garza as his starting backline. Arce, Cristian Pellerano, Javier Guemez and Corona were the midfielders while Herculez Gomez and Fidel Martinez were the strikers. Edgar Castillo, Juan Hernandez and Richard Ruiz came on as second half substitutes.
The Xoloitzcuintles will return to Tijuana and prepare for its Week 2 match against Club America Friday Jan. 10 (7:30 p.m. Pacific) in its home opener at Estadio Caliente.
