Soccer

Santos vs. Xolos: Tijuana's first place position at stake

The canine squad will be playing with 5 less players

TIJUANA, BC.- Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente will be playing today with 5 less players, in a game that will probably be their most difficult game of the season against Santos, who are the Mexican soccer champions.

The match in week 13 of the Apertura Tournament 2012 of the Liga MX, will be played at Territorio Santos Modelo this Saturday at 7p.m local time, and at 5p.m. pacific standard time (PST).

This game is being characterized for a lot of missing players, being that not only Xolos will be playing without 5 of their starters, but also Santos will have also 5 players out and another player that is not confirmed yet if he will play.

In Santos camp both Juan Pablo Rodriguez and Carlos Darwin Quintero are injured and will not play: Daniel Luduenas is not for certain yet if he will play due to muscular exhaustion on his right leg, but if the team doctor gives the okay for him to play, then the head coach will make that decision most likely an hour before the game starts.

Santos injured players list will add to it players who suffered an injury while with their national team like: Oribe Peralta, Mexico, Herculez Gomez, U.S., and Felipe Baloy with Panama.

On the side of Club Tijuana the injured players are Juan Pablo Santiago, Edgar Castillo and Cristian Pellerano.

Santiago has been injured almost all season, and Pellerano most likely will be able to play again in 2 weeks.

The only suspended player from either team is Xolos team captain Javier Gandolfi, who will play again until the match against Cruz Azul.

Joe Corona of the U.S. national team was on the bench waiting for some playing time, while the U.S. beat Antigua and Barbuda 2-1.

The Paraguayan Pablo Cesar Aguilar will continue to represent his country until this coming Tuesday.

Due to these starters being out, head coach Antonio Mohamed had to move 5 positions around to be able to maintain a strong 4-4-3 line up, which the goal will still be defended by goal keeper Cirilo Saucedo, while Juan Carlos Nunez will still be in charge of defending the right defensive zone.

On the left part of the field Gregory Garza is replacing Edgar Castillo's position, and in the center midfield Joshua Abrego and Alfredo Gonzalez Tahuilan most likely will be playing in Gandolfi's and Aguilar's position.

Up front towards the center the Argentinian Pellerano will be replaced by Jorge Hernandez, and in the forward position Fidel Martinez is the perfect candidate to substitute Corona, so that Martinez can run the ball on that left side of the field, and be able to deliver passes to Alfredo "Chango" Moreno and Duvier Riascos.

Today's game will be difficult for Xolos, but the team is looking to keep their first place position on the leader boards of the competition, and go now 11 games in a row undefeated in the league.

Manuel.Medina@sandiegored.com

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