Uruguayan coach Sebastián ‘Loco’ Abreu’s Tijuana defeated Bravos de Juárez 1-2 yesterday in a match that marked the return to the field of midfielder Gilberto Mora, the young jewel of Mexican soccer.
In the continuation of the fourteenth round of the Clausura tournament, Kevin Castañeda and Ramiro Árciga scored for the Xolos, who moved into the quarterfinal qualification zone. Brazilian Guilherme Castillo scored for the home team.
Early ejection conditions the match
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Just three minutes in, the Bravos were down a man after the Spanish player Monchu Rodríguez was sent off for violent play.
Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha, the team’s coach, set up his defensive line well, which held its ground and even had the luxury of creating danger on a couple of counterattacks.
Just when it looked like Juarez would survive the first half, Morocco’s Mourad El Guezouani set up Castañeda, who converted with a left-footed shot to make it 0-1 for Tijuana.
The Xolos started the second half better and confirmed it in the 52nd minute with a goal by Árciga, who took a rebound from the goalkeeper and put the ball into the net, making it 0-2.
Juárez reacted and came close to scoring in the 65th minute, when the Brazilian Castillo missed with everything in his favor in the box.
Gilberto Mora returns to the courts
Three minutes earlier, Mora had returned to the field, recovered from pubalgia.
This is encouraging news for Mexican soccer because the youngster is a candidate to be one of the stars of the national team in the World Cup.
Both Tijuana and Juarez gave up offensive opportunities until the 88th minute when Castillo converted a penalty kick to bring the Bravos within 1-0.
Xolos moved into the qualification zone
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Juárez went on the attack, but in the 90+7 minute they suffered another sending-off, of Colombian Jesús Murillo.
It struggled, but could no longer equalize.
Tijuana moved up to eighth place with 18 points, two more than Juárez, twelfth in the standings.
Day 14 continues with key duels
A couple of hours before the duel between Tijuana and Juárez, Panama’s Ismael Díaz scored a goal to give León a 1-0 win over Puebla.
On Saturday, the 14th matchday will continue with five games, including América-Cruz Azul, which will pit two of the league’s most fiercely rivalrous teams against each other.
As well as the visit of leaders Chivas de Guadalajara to Tigres UANL of Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Aguirre.
In addition, Atlas will host Monterrey, Querétaro will host Necaxa and Pachuca will host Santos Laguna.
Sunday will close the day when champion Toluca will host San Luis and Pumas UNAM will host Mazatlán.
With information from EFE
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