He watched as his teammates were about to make history.
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles were at the brink of clinching a spot in the Mexican Primera Division as they counted down the seconds in a promotion match against Irapuato in May.
Adrián Zermeño could only sit and witness the Xolos make the shift to Mexico's top flight league after helping the club reach deep into the season of the Liga de Ascenso or second division. He missed the final month of the Clausura Tournament.
A right knee injury kept him out. Leonín Pineda filled in for Zermeño. Pineda helped the Xolos reach promotion. He played in the historic match against Irapuato.
Half a year later and eleven matches into the Xolos initial tournament in the Primera Division, Zermeño is expected to be back at goalkeeper for the Xolos.
Zermeño will make his first start in the first division for the Xolos on Saturday when Tijuana travels to Guadalajara to take on Atlas. The Week 12 match-up marks the first meeting ever between the two clubs.
Zermeño has been ready to step on the field since earlier this tournament but the Xolos had established a starting goalkeeper in Cirilo Saucedo, who was signed this past off season from Tigres UANL and was made the immediate starter.
Saucedo has played a solid season but a shoulder injury will keep him out for an indefinite time.
Saucedo injured his left shoulder during a practice session this week. Saucedo went up to make a play on a ball, collided with a teammate, then crashed into the ground on his left side.
The team will not elaborate on the extent of the injury but new coach Antonio "El Turco" Mohamed said Saucedo continued to complain of pain in the shoulder.
"He's out," Mohamed said. "We spoke with him and he said there is plenty of pain, so we are going to be cautious and rest him so he can recover."
Don't expect Zermeño to recover his starting spot at goalkeeper. Saucedo should remain the starter once he is healthy, but Zermeno will take advantage of the opportunity.
And it might be good timing for Zermeño to step back into action.
The Xolos (1-5-5), who salvaged a draw against Tigres last week, face an Atlas (1-7-3) team that is coming off a draw against Jaguares, one of the league's surprising top teams this season. But before that draw, Atlas has been the worst team in the league with only six points in the overall standings.
Tijuana is second to last in the standings, with eight points. Both clubs are in danger of relegation to the second division. The Xolos are the last place team in the relegation percentage standings and could be back in the Liga de Ascenso after the end of the Clausura tournament next summer.
In the meantime, the Xolos will lean on their backup goalkeeper to help get past Atlas.
The Xolos are in desperate need of a win. There are five matches remaining on the Xolos schedule after Atlas. Tijuana returns home to Estadio Caliente to face Pachuca next week, then travels to Cancun to take on Atlante, then play the last two home matches against Jaguares and San Luis before finishing the Apertura Tournament against the defending champions, Pumas UNAM in Mexico City.
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
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Where to watch
What: Xolos vs. Atlas
When: Saturday, Oct. 8
Where: Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
TV: Galavision
Outlook: If there is a match on the Xolos' schedule that could be marked as a must win, it is this. The Xolos have not won a match in seven tries and Atlas is one of the league's weakest teams. This could be an opportunity coach Antonio Mohamed would not want to waste. [/sidebar]
