Soccer

Xolos give up late goal, tie in Pachuca

Castillo's 89th minute score spoils possible win

The shot came virtually out of nowhere.

It caught Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles' defense off guard. The shot sailed past Xolos goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo into the back of the net.

It was Nery Castillo's left-footed blast in the 89th minute that changed what appeared to be a Tijuana victory into a 2-2 draw against host Pachuca Saturday night.

A shorthanded Tijuana was on its way to a second-straight victory but Castillo, Pachuca's high profile offseason acquisition, had other plans.

He fled behind a sleeping Xolos defense and took a one bounce pass, blasting the ball from just outside the 18-yard box, zooming past Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo.

Instead of leaving Pachuca with nine points and in a three-way tie with Leon and Toluca a top of the standings heading into Sunday, the Xolos settled for a point. Tijuana is now 2-1-1 with seven points, four weeks into the Apertura tournament.

Pachuca is now 1-1-2 with five points.

But things looked bleak for "Los Tuzos" as the clock ran out.

That's when Castillo, who came in as a second half substitute, gave Pachuca life.

The Xolos were the better team, controlling ball possession for most of the second half prior to Castillo's goal. Tijuana had taken a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute when Fernando Arce sent in a bending free kick past Pachuca goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota. It was Arce's second goal of the season and it was the play that appeared to be the game winning goal for Tijuana.

Defender Pablo Garcia gave the Xolos a 1-0 lead in the 3th minute when he sent in a ball via a header off a Leandro Augusto lobbing pass.

Augusto chipped the ball into the air with his left foot, finding Aguilar lurking behind Pachuca's defense. It was Aguilar's second goal of the season.

Pachuca tied the match at one in the 61st minute. Felix Borja out jumped Arce inside the six-yard and beat him to a Mauro Cejas corner kick. Borja got a piece of the ball and redirected it into the back of the net.

The Xolos relied on players other than its forwards to score goals.

Starting forward Duvier Riascos left the game 17th minute with what appeared to be a right hamstring injury. The Colombian-born striker tried to sprint after a fast rolling pass by Alfredo Moreno near the right top corner of the 18-yard box.

Fidel Martinez came in to replace Riascos. But Riascos didn't finish the game either. He was ejected in the 84th minute for accumulating a second yellow card.

That leaves the Xolos without Martinez for its next match as he will serve a red card suspension. Riascos could be doubtful. His injury status was unknown Saturday night.

Losing Riascos and Martinez left the Xolos without its two quick strikers and with a man less with a few minutes left to play. It appeared Tijuana would hold on. But not with Castillo around. Castillo was brought in by Pachuca's new head coach Hugo Sanchez.

Castillo, who has multiple passports but has pledge allegiance to the Mexican national team, was a high profile signing during the offseason. Sanchez often called up Castillo for El Tri matches when Sanchez was Mexico's coach from 2006 to 2008. Sanchez no longer coaches El Tri and Castillo never developed into a true national team star. He no longer plays for Mexico.

Castillo, who has played in Greece the last three years, is supposed to be a striking force for Pachuca this season. This is his chance to rejuvenate his career under Sanchez.

He might have begun to do so with Saturday night's goal.

Castillo was yet to play for Pachuca this season.

He might become a starter after his game winning goal.

And as for the Xolos, coach Antonio Mohamed's team will try to regroup from the disappointing draw and prepare for a Week 5 home match against Tigres UNAM.

Tijuana is now 1-1-1 against Pachuca, with the win coming last tournament at Estadio Azteca.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com

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