Club Tijuana has suffered a huge blow in their Mexican league playoff campaign. The Xolos who came into the game in 8th place suffered their biggest loss since being promoted to first division. Cruz Azul blew out Tijuana with a scoreline of 5-0. Mariano Pavone, Teofilo Gutierrez, Gerardo Flores, and Javier Orozco the goal scorers for Cruz Azul. The Xolos did play the final 20 minutes with 10 men thanks to the sending off of Cristian Pellerano due to a double yellow card.

The border town team came into the match with full intentions of coming away with the win. They pushed the home team back into their own field for much of the first half. The Xolos controlled much of the possession, but were unable to cause any real trouble on the goal of Jesus Corona.

The Xoloitzcuitles were unlucky on a couple of occasions of not getting a penalty awarded to them. The first one when U.S. International Joe Corona found a bouncing ball at the top of the box and had a first time powerful shot. Cruz Azul defender slid in with his head turned and his arms up; the ball ended up striking the hand of the defender. Center referee just signaled a corner kick.

The second time came in the 31st minute of the first half when Duvier Riascos seemed to be charged by Cruz Azul defender Amaranto Perea. Referee opted t calling a foul against Riascos instead of a penalty.

One minute later after the no call with Riascos, Cruz Azul builded a fast play on their right wing. Pablo Barrera dribbled the ball with the complicity of Xolos defender Edgar Castillo. Barrera ended p sending a low cross that Mariano Pavone controlled and managed to turn and send a powerful shot into the roof of the net to give the home town team the lead; even though they had been dominated up to that point in the game.

For the second half Xolos tried to maintain the same pressure in search of an equalizing goal. But once again they were unable to cause any real trouble on the Cruz Azul goal. The Xoloitzcuitles have now gone 274 minutes in league play with out scoring a goal.

Second half substitute Teofilo Guiterrez wasted no time in getting involved in the game. Seconds after coming into the game he took the ball and dribbled down the middle of the field. Xolos captain and central defender back pedaled towards his own goal instead of challenging Guiterrez; the Colombian international took advantage ofmthenspace conceded to him and took a powerful shot that sailed over Saucedo's head and into the top corner for the 2-0.

That second goal really shook the Tijuana side never seemed to get a hold of the game after that. Tempers started to flare up on both sides and the cards started flying out of the referee's pocket. Defensive midfielder Cristian Pellerano saw two of those yellow cards and was sent out of the game in the 70th minute.

With the two goal lead and a man advantage Cruz Azul maintained their defensive composure and looked to take advantage on the counter attacks to creat danger. Late in the game off of a corner kick, right back Gerardo Flores got his head on the ball over Javier Gandolfi and Danny Marquez to push the ball into the net and make it 3-0 for the home side.

Cruz Azul kept making the dangerous counter attacks on their right side, and in the 89th minute another second half substitute; Javier Orozco had a low powerful shot from the right side into the opposite post of Cirilo Saucedo to make it 4-0.

Two minutes later on another counter attack from the right, Gerardo Flores sent in a high cross that improvised right winger/right back Richard Ruiz could not cut down. A low cross was then placed across the mouth of goal were Javier Orozco was waiting to just tap the ball into the net for his second goal of the game.

With the win Cruz Azul go up into the top eight and push Xolos out of the top eight. Three games are left in the season for Xolos to fight for a playoff spot.

Tijuana will not have a midweek game this week and can fully focus on their next Liga MX match that will be against Morelia in the Estadio Caliente next Saturday April 20.

Editorial@sandiegored.com