TIJUANA.- Tijuana's professional soccer team is now running in a rougher pack, playing against Mexico's top teams, and the club showed it might just be competitive during the 2011 tournament.

In its home opener Saturday in the First Division, the Xoloitzcuintles lost to Morelia 2-1 despite being the better team. It held possession more than the Monarcas. The Xolos held last season's tournament runner-up to three shots on goal and still could not hold on to a 1-1 tie.

The Xolos let their first Primera División point get away when Miguel Sabah converted a penalty kick for Morelia late in the match.

It is something the Xolos will try build on when the team travels to Monterrey on Saturday for a Week 2 match-up.

"I liked the fan's behavior. It was spectacular despite the loss," Xolos coach Joaquin del Olmo said about the atmosphere at Estadio Caliente. "It was our first home loss since I came here. It was a great effort. Some people might see it differently but what matters is that we've spoken with the players so that we play a good game and get the three points against Monterrey this Saturday."

Expect for Tijuana to be looking to improve on a handful of weaknesses displayed in their season-opening loss, which broke a 16-month, 25-game win streak at home and spoiled a city's historic event:

Sharpen the defense: Both of Morelia's goals came as a result of mistakes in the back. The left side of the Xolos' defense is considered to be the strong point of the defense, yet it left Monarcas forward Luis Sandoval wide open inside the 18-yard box. Sandoval buried a shot into the net. Then, the Xolos left center back Alejandro Molina failed to connect a pass out of the back, resulting in a Morelia counter-attack. The play ended with Joao Rojas taken down in the box and a penalty kick in Morelia's favor. Better play from central midfielders: Leandro Augusto and Fernando Arce were a couple of notable off-season acquisitions. They are both veteran players who are expected to help fuel the attack. Both players appeared to struggle against Morelia. Arce and Augusto looked lost at times in the midfield. They couldn't connect on passes and lost possession in space. To both players' credit, it was their first match playing with a group of eight other players who were part of last tournament's starting line-up. Plus, it might take time for both players to adjust to the roll and bounce of the ball on the Estadio Caliente artificial surface. The midfield should improve once Egidio Arevalo is incorporated into the team. The Uruguayan player signed a three-year deal with the Xolos on Thursday. It is not clear when he will play. He joins the team after being part of the Uruguayan national team that won the Copa América championship last week. Put a true striker at top: The Xolos might need someone who can score goals and be a solid supporting task to forward Raul Enriquez, the club's all-time leading scorer. Luis Orozco started alongside Enriquez against Morelia. He didn't generate many scoring opportunities with Enriquez lined up to his left. Orozco could be a reliable option but the team will have Colombian striker Dayro Moreno in action this week. He is expected to help score the goals Tijuana needs. Play through midfielder Joe Corona: Corona scored the Xolos first Primera División goal against Morelia. Sure, his score came off a deflection by goalkeeper Federico Vilar after Augusto took a shot from long range. But Corona appeared to be almost perfect with his dribbling and pin-point passes. The right-wing often generated attacks from his side of the field. At times, he stifled defenders with his ball-dribbling skills. Continue to play with confidence: The Xolos didn't completely look like a team that was just promoted to the First Division. Del Olmo and Corona credited the team's confidence to having most of the starting line-up from last season back for this tournament. A win against Monterrey, a team Tijuana faced in the preseason, could boost that confidence as well.

The Xolos will host Chivas de Guadalajara on Sep. 2 in a match that was rescheduled from its original date, Aug. 3.

Chivas, one of Mexico's most popular and wealthier clubs, will face Spanish giant Barcelona in a friendly on Aug. 3.

Officials from both teams and the TV network carrying the game had tentatively rescheduled the match for Aug.10. But that idea was quickly scratched to give way to the Mexico-U.S. international friendly in Philadelphia.

Chivas is the only club of the "four giants" to visit Tijuana. The Xolos are slated to face Club América, Cruz Azul and Pumas on the road. All-three teams play in Mexico City.

The last time the Xolos and Chivas met was in 2009 with both teams playing to a 1-1 draw.

DAYRO MORENO

The Colombian-born striker joined the team for practice this week after missing the season opener. He could see action against Monterrey and could possibly start at forward. He missed the match against Morelia. Moreno had just returned from Argentina, where he played for Colombia in the Copa América tournament.

"We are moving step-by-step," Moreno said. "I am working closely with the team trainer and coach. We know I am coming off a challenging Copa América in which I had important games. ..If I get the chance to play, we'll show that we are here to accomplish great things."

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com