TIJUANA -Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles did it again.
The new team in the Mexican Primera División was the better team Saturday afternoon. It at times dominated possession and the flow of the match. But it wasn't enough as the Xolos played to a 1-1 draw against Puebla at Estadio Caliente.
Tijuana appears to be comfortable facing some of Mexico's better teams as it assimilates to the country's top soccer circuit.
In its last four matches it has at times dominated the opponent and showed signs it should have been victorious instead of loses to Morelia and Monterrey in the first two games of the Apertura Tournament.
But it is the small details that perhaps are keeping the Xolos from earning more wins and stacking up points in the standings.
The Xolos (1-2-1, 4 points) had plenty of chances to put away "La Franja," as Puebla is known, but couldn't complete plays. It couldn't catch a break.
There was Luis Orozco's left-footed blast in injury time that sailed inches wide of the right post.
Then there was Raul Enriquez, the club's all-time leading scorer, basting a shot off the left post in the 77th minute. The ball ricocheted to Tijuana midfielder Leandro Augusto's feet. He sent a shot only to have a defender block it with his body.
The ball would just not find the net for the Xolos. They would have to settle for the draw after Dayro Moreno scored eight minutes into the match and Puebla's Duvier Riascos evened the score in the 16th minute.
"The second half was all Xolos," said Tijuana coach Joaquin del Olmo. "We just needed one more goal to get the win. But it is clear that Xolos is making history in this tournament. We have to stay calm mentally and play through all this."
The Xolos played through a warm afternoon with Puebla having to adjust to the heat the artificial surface reflected. But that was no excuse.
La Franja (1-2-2, 5 points) coach Sergio Bueno recognized the Xolos were the better team.
He was asked if he played for the tie in the second half.
"I no way did we settle for the tie," Bueno said. "Our rival simply kept the ball from us and defended well. They didn't let us do much but I think it was a deserving tie for both teams."
Both teams will accept the points.
Puebla was coming off back-to-back losses while the Xolos earned their first win last week at Santos Laguna.
Tijuana and Puebla sit near the bottom of the standings.
The Xolos should have won the match against Puebla and raked in three points. It is something the players are learning to deal with in the First Division. The better team doesn't always win.
"It's part of the game," said Xolos midfielder Joe Corona. "We'll keep working at it and the points will come. The goals will come."
Moreno's goal to open up the scoring came via a free kick.
He sent a bending volley off a free kick from about 30-yards out as the ball arched from left to right. The ball landed near the top-left-corner of Puebla goalkeeper Mario Rodriguez's goal, giving Moreno his third goal of the tournament.
That was Tijuana's first real threat of the match and it took advantage. The Xolos could have built on that lead a minute later. That's when midfielder Fernando Arce fed striker Jose Sand a through pass into the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Sand couldn't get to the ball in time as Rodríguez slid and dove on the ball to end the threat.
The Xolos had previously have had trouble giving up threatening plays in the back. It is a problem that reared its head again Sunday against Puebla.
Tijuana defenders Joshua Abrego, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous match, and central midfielder Egidio Arevalo couldn't keep up with Puebla's Gonzalo Pineda and Riascos.
Pineda sent a quick, rolling pass to Riascos inside the left side of the 18-yard box. Riascos didn't waste the opportunity and sent a blast past
Cirilo Saucedo to tie the game 1-1.
Tijuana also had a couple of opportunities to benefit from Puebla defensive miscues in the first half.
A loose ball through the air landed near Sand in the penalty box after Cervantes couldn't clear it out with his head, instead sending it toward his own goal.
Sand couldn't tap the ball around Rodriguez, La Franja's goalkeeper.
That was the story in the second half. More opportunities, no goals.
Sand appeared to have scored in the 83rd minute when he sneaked past Puebla's defense and Rodríguez. He sent a rolling shot into the net, sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy. The play didn't count. Sand was called offsides.
It does not get any easier for Tijuana. The Xolos next play Aug. 20 when they travel to Mexico City to face one of one the more popular teams, Cruz Azul. Then they will play two home matches against Queretaro (Aug. 28) and against Chivas de Guadalajara Sept. 2.
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
