Fifteen.
That is the number Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles wants.
It is the magic number. It is the amount of possible points remaining the Xolos can accumulate before their first stint in the Mexican Primera División comes to an end. At least for the Apertura tournament.
Tijuana will have one more tournament, one more chance to remain in Mexico's top league and stay with the big boys in the biggest party.
The Xolos' invitation and access pass to the bash could be taken away if they do not rake in a good portion of their remaining possible points, in the current and Clausura tournament next summer.
If Tijuana wins their remaining five matches, they would finish the season with 24 points. That could put the team in position to perhaps squeeze into the playoffs but that is only if they get some help. That means 16 other teams must finish with poor records in the remaining five matches.
The Xolos (1-5-6, nine points) need a miracle. They need the break they have been looking for since the start of the tournament.
Plenty of times have the Xolos outplayed their opponents and, at times, dominated. They have taken leads only to squander them at key moments of a match, as happened last week in Guadalajara against Atlas.
Tijuana appeared to be finishing with a 2-1 win until Atlas converted a penalty kick in injury time to tie the match. The penalty kick was a result of a questionable foul whistled against the Xolos in the penalty area.
This has happened before to the Xolos this season. Another tie that felt like a loss.
Tijuana is 12 matches into the season and its only win came in Week Four, a 3-1 outing against Santos Laguna. Coach Antonio Mohamed's team is yet to win at home. It is 0-3-3 at home.
The squad will try to change that Saturday when it hosts Pachuca (6-4-2, 20 points) at Estadio Caliente in a Week 13 match up.
Things will be different this time around. The Xolos will get to play Saturday at the same time as other prime time teams in the league.
The match will be played under the newly installed stadium lights. The team has been playing at noon on Sundays. The game is to start at 5 p.m. Saturday, and by the time the second half begins it will be dark enough for the lights to illuminate the artificial grass.
The Xolos face a tough opponent Saturday. "Los Tuzos," as Pachuca is known, are the No. 4 team in the league and are serious contenders to finish near the top of the standings. Pachuca is unbeaten in its last four matches. It is the fifth best offensive team in the tournament with, 18 goals.
"It is a team that comes in here riding high with very good players," Mohamed said. "But we are at home and we must win. This team has been competitive against all its rivals, none has just passed over us. The games have been decided in the end. We have to close out games with the scoreboard in our favor."
If there is something else the Xolos have in their favor this weekend, it is Pachuca's record on the road. The Tuzos have won once away from home. Three of their four loses came on the road.
And this time, this road match will be under the lights.
Xolos players practiced under the lights this week and are adjusting.
"It feels weird," said striker Raul Enriquez, who is one of the longest tenured players on the team. "It's been a while since we've had a chance to train at night or play a game at night on a field like this one. I do think it can play a factor (in the game). We have to take advantage of it and get used to it as soon as possible."
The Xolos will have to if they want to reach their desired number…15
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]What: Pachuca vs. Xolos
When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 5 p.m.
Where: Estadio Caliente
TV: TV Azteca
Outlook: Another week, another chance to earn some points and try to move away from the bottom of the standings for the Xolos. This time, it will be a home match under the newly installed lights at Estadio Caliente.[/sidebar]
