One of Tijuana's star soccer players is confident the team will reach the playoffs. To do that, the Xoloitzcuintles have to do something they have not done in the first two games of the season: win.
The Xolos lost despite being the better team, for the most part, against Morelia and Monterrey, two of the best squads in the First Division.
If Tijuana wants to stay in that division, the Xolos must earn points now.
Tijuana midfielder Joe Corona, a Sweetwater High alumni, predicted earlier this week that his team will reach the post season.
"We are calm," Corona said. "The team needs to settle in but we're fine. We are sure that we will qualify (for the playoffs) and that we are going to do everything possible to begin adding points."
The Xolos' (0-2-0) next chance will be Saturday, when coach Joaquin del Olmo's squad travels to Santos Laguna. Santos (2-0-0) is off to a fast start having outscored its opponents 7-1 in back-to-back wins.
Santos is also competing in the CONCACAF Champions League where it dominated against Olimpia of Honduras with a 3-1 win in the group stage.
A second-straight road game in a hostile environment is daunting. The Xolos have one thing in their favor: They didn't have to play a second match this week like most of the rest of the league.
Tijuana was supposed to face Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday but a schedule conflict forced the match to be rescheduled. Chivas played Spanish giant Barcelona in a friendly in Miami as part of the World Football Challenge.
That might have been a blessing for the Xolos. Chivas, one of Mexico's more popular and powerful clubs, is off to a fast start in the tournament. It has yet to lose a match.
Chivas is not the team the Xolos wanted to face when it is trying to bounce back from a heart-wrenching defeat last week at Monterrey, where Tijuana led 2-0 only to allow four unanswered goals.
Tijuana came out fast with goals from Colombian striker Dayro Moreno and midfielder Joe Corona. It appeared the Xolos were en route to their first win in Mexico's top circuit. But inexperience at this level and the resurgence of Monterrey's squad proved costly.
Del Olmo plans to keep an aggressive style of play.
"This is the first week we were all together and against Santos we are going to come out and play our system without committing to the attack or sit back and defend. We had the lead against Monterrey and we had to understand that we had to defend the score. But that's part of the process. The guys are learning it and they are getting better every day."
And they should get better.
Del Olmo has a complete squad now that Uruguayan national Egidio Árevalo has joined the team after missing the first match while playing for his country in the Copa América. He and Moreno both played in their first match as Xolos against Monterrey.
This should give Tijuana some consistency at midfield and on top. The team had its first practices as a complete unit this week.
"It's been a few days (together) but we are rapidly getting used to each other, which is fundamental," said Árevalo in a team news release. "I think as the days go on we will get used to each other."
Part of that might include solidifying the defense. Sure, the Xolos have the entire back line from last year at their disposal but key errors have led to game-changing plays and goals against them.
"We have to have zeros on our goal," Árevalo said. "The goals will come (for us) because we have important players who create scoring opportunities against tough rivals like Monterrey, the home team. We matched up well "We have new players but this weekend should be different. For sure, we will have more chemistry."
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]Xolos Week 3
What: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles at Santos Laguna
When: Saturday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m. (Pacific)
Where: Estadio Corona in Torreón
TV: TV Azteca
Outlook: The Xolos are looking for their first points as members of the Primera División. Tijuana is coming off a 4-2 loss at Monterrey last week after taking a 2-0 lead. This should be the first match after a week of practice with a complete squad. Off-season additions are still adjusting to playing with team veterans. Santos Laguna is coming off a 3-0 rout of Atlante last week and a 4-1 win against Pachuca in the tournament opener the prior week.
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