TUXTLA GUTIERREZ – Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuitles sufferes yet another loss on the road, this time 3-1 against Chiapas FC. The center referee was a huge influence in the proceedings of this match with several bad calls against both teams.

The game got under way under heavy rain in the southern border of Mexico. In the second minute of play center referee issued Tijuana Xolos captain Javier Gandolfi a red card for a sliding challenge in midfield. Replays showed that Gandolfi did not make contact with the opposing player and at could hardly be considered a foul, much less a direct red card forcing Tijuana to play almost the entire match with on less player.

In the 12th minute the referee decided to suspend the game due to lightning. Xoloitzcuintle manager Jorge Almiron was not pleased with the decision, but the players were sent out of the field and into the locker rooms. The game remained suspended for over 40 minutes but got back under way.

After the re-start the home side pushed forward with the man advantage they held over Xolos and managed to score the opening goal through Carlos Ochoa. But a late offside decision waived off the goal. Replays show that Ochoa was completely in an onside position and that the referee had committed another huge defense.

Just three minutes after the home side had their goal wrongfully called off Javier Guemez gave Tijuana the lead with a long distance shot from outside the box that found the lower corner of the goal. This was the youngster’s first goal for the club.

During the added time just before halftime the home side found an equalizer through Lucas Viatri who took advantage of some poor defending and a goalkeeper mistake on a corner kick to level the score.

During the second half the home side managed their man advantage well and pushed Tijuana back. The referee kept calling and issuing a lot of fouls and cards very cheaply; which would lead to another unjust red card, this time to Mauricio Romero towards the end of the match.

Chiapas took the lead through second half substitute Mauricio Romero. The cross came in from the right side of the field and the entire Xolos defense stood still waiting for an offside call to come; which one never came. Mauricio Romero who did appear offside took advantage of another referee mistake and scored the goal.

Martin Zuñiga another second half substitute sealed the win for the home side seconds before the final whistle as Xolos tried to push up the field looking for the equalizing goal. Zuñiga with a diving header put the ball into the back of the net for the third goal.

Club Tijuana has now lost all three of their away games this season in the Liga Bancomer MX. Next up for the Xolos is a home game on Saturday evening against recently promoted Veracruz.

jonny.rico@sandiegored.com (@jonyrico)