The Tijuana Xolos suffered their fourth loss of the season this time to Club Queretaro. The game on Saturday night was for the tenth week of the Liga MX.

Club manager Antonio Mohamed presented nine changes from his usual starting lineup, to give his players some rest; this of course with the Copa Libertadores match next Wednesday against Corinthians in Brazil in mind. Only goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo and central defender Pablo Aguilar remained in the starting lineup.

THE GAME

Queretaro got an early chance to open the score in the first minute of play. Amaury Escoto took a long range shot that Cirilo Saucedo was able to block off, Wilmer Cosme was ready to pounce on the rebound but Saucedo was able to pick up his rebound.

Xolos answered right back. In the eight minute Richard Ruiz sent in a cross to Danny Marquez who controlled the ball with his chest put the charging goalkeeper was able to save his shot.

One minute later Richard Ruiz again from the right side sent in a cross that found Danny Marquez’s head. The keeper Garcia was able to get a hand on the ball and sent it to the cross bar. Diego Olsina got a head on the rebound and also sent it to the crossbar.

The game got stuck in midfield from that point on. Tijuana’s midfield started to gain the upper hand, but never really threatening the ‘Gallos’ goal.

Queretaro was able to strike first on the scoreboard. In the 32nd minute Wilberto Cosme received a pass from Julio Nava and dribbled at the Xolos defense. He was able to skip past Jorge Hernandez on the right side, and entered the penalty area to face Saucedo. Cosme was able to strike the ball pass the charging Saucedo to put the ‘Gallos’ in front 0-1.

After the goal Xolos were able to get a hold of the ball again and push up the field. But the Queretaro team drew back its lines and defended with almost every man. The Xoloitzcuintle team was unable to penetrate the Queretaro defense. Xolos went into half time down by one goal.

The second half started off the same way as the first half ended; with Xolos enjoying the majority of the possession and Queretaro defending with all eleven players. But no real danger was being caused on Sergio Garcia’s goal.

In the 63rd minute second half substitute Bruno Piceno had a shot from outside of the box that came close to equalizing the game. The Club Tijuana youth product took advantage of a poor clearance from the Queretaro defense after a corner kick, and hit the ball first time. The ball went just wide, but gave the optical illusion that it was in the net.

The Xolos continued with the pressure, moving the ball around in the Queretaro side of the field. But they never really produced any goal scoring opportunities. Mohamed sent in the reinforcements. Fernando Arce and Alfredo Moreno were brought onto the game, as well as the fore mentioned Xolos youngster Bruno Piceno.

Xolos ended the match with an attack minded team with three forwards (Moreno, Marquez and Enriquez) and attack minded midfielders (Arce and Piceno).

But in spite of this Xolos could not find the equalizing goal.

In the 42nd minute Luis Angel Landin had a chance to seal the victory for Queretaro when he had a wide open goal to head the ball in. But Landin’s header went straight to Saucedo’s hands.

The game would end with 0-1 and the Cosme goal was all the difference in this one. With this loss the Xolos remain with 16 points and would potentially drop to 8th place depending on Sunday’s results.

Editorial@sandiegored.com