TIJUANA – After beating Club America in San Diego last weekend, the Tijuana Xolos played for the first time this preseason in front of their home fans at the Estadio Caliente. They presented themselves with a 1-3 loss to second division team Correcaminos.
This game marked the returned of Joaquin Del Olmo to the Estadio Caliente. He was received by the home fans with lots of cheer and applause, as people still remember the job the now Correcaminos manager did to achieve first division promotion with the Xolos.
The Tijuana Xolos began the match controlling possession of the ball, but it was the visiting Correcaminos who looked more dangerous on the counter attack. In the 6th minute Correcaminos had their first chance of the game in a long pass, goalkeeper Adrian Zermeño came out of his goal can did not manage to clear the ball. His defenders had to clear the ball off of the line.
In the 15th minute later the Xolos defense was not completely aware of the play, the visiting goalkeeper cleared the ball and it was flicked on in midfield. All of the Xolos defenders stood there waiting for an offside call that did not come. Former Xolo Armando Pulido was left one on one with the goalkeeper but his shot went over the cross bar.
The third time was a charm for Correcaminos, two minutes later in the 17th minute Pulido once again got behind the defense and dribbled all the way to the end line on the left side of the field, he sent in a low cross and his teammate Jorge Ocampo just had to push in the ball for the first goal of the game.
Richard Ruiz had the equalizing goal in his boots in the 20th minute after a good combination play between Emmanuel Cerda and Fidel Martinez. Martinez gave the pass to Ruiz, who was left one on one with the goalkeeper, but he crossed his shot too much and the ball went out wide.
The visitors added to their lead in the 33rd minute on another quick play. Alejandro Barber received a long pass on the right side of the field and sent in a cross into the box. Eder Pacheco anticipated his marker and headed in the second goal of the night.
In the second half the new Tijuana Xolos manager Jorge Almiron changed up the formation and went with a 4-4-2 system. He also sent in brand new Xolos player Dario Benedetto.
But the second division teams were still beating out the Xolos defenders, they managed a third goal in the 55th minute by Eduardo Gallegos who took advantage that the defensive line did not step up quick enough following a clearness from a corner kick.
The American duo of Greg Garza and Paul Arriola combined in the second half to put the Xolos on the board. Greg Garza stole the ball in midfield and dribbled down the left wing. Benedetto made a run pulling the defender with him, Arriola was left all alone in the box and Garza found him with a precise cross. Arriola then got his head to the Garza cross to send the ball to the back of the net.
Xolos looked to pass the ball around and elaborate plays that would get them closer to another goal. But the Correcaminos defense stayed organized and did not allow the Tijuana side to construct anything.
Tijuana Xolos will have one more preseason friendly prior to the start of the Apertura 2013 season of Liga MX; that last preseason game will be next Saturday at 7:30PM local time in the Estadio Caliente.
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jonny.rico@sandiegored.com (@jonyrico)
