GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Club Tijuana lost their first match in 17 games at Estadio Caliente on Friday, falling 3-0 to Chiapas, with Edgar Castillo the only American starter.
The New Mexican began the game as a wingback, but was quiet in the first half as a defensively shambolic Xolos leaked three goals in the first 45 minutes, before he shifted to a left back role after halftime.
Joe Corona came off the bench at the break for Tijuana as the home side chased the game and was lively in linking the midfield and attack, producing a through-ball in the 50th from which Darío Benedetto earned a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Young forward Paul Arriola was thrown on in the 64th as an attacking midfielder and glanced a header wide of the goal in the 71st.
The final substitution saw Herculez Gomez enter the fray in the 77th at striker and the former MLSer hit the bar in the 86th with a free kick from 25 yards.
Earlier Friday in Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama came on for the final eight minutes of Necaxa’s 1-0 home win over Celaya.
In the Under-20s, Michael Farfan went 90 minutes for Cruz Azul in their 2-1 victory over Querétaro, while twin brother Gabriel Farfan completed the full game for Chiapas in their 1-1 tie with Tijuana, for whom Alejandro Guido scored.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
