GUADALAJARA, Mexico – US international Joe Corona almost won the game for Club Tijuana two minutes from the end of Xolos’ 1-1 draw with Tigres UANL on Friday in Liga MX action.
Corona found himself free inside the area and connected with a right wing cross from Darío Benedetto, but his header was off target and gathered comfortably by Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán.
The San Diego native came off the bench in the 68th minute and was bright in pulling the strings as Xolos searched for the winner, but the club now finds itself with just one point from its first three matches of the Apertura 2014.
Greg Garza once again played the full 90 minutes for Tijuana, winning a free kick that earned Hugo Ayala a yellow card, and putting in a solid display at left back.
The other American involved for Xolos was Paul Arriola. He came on in the 79th and got booked two minutes later for a high tackle on Jorge Torres Nilo.
For Tigres, Jose “Gringo” Torres was a contender for man of the match – along with ‘keeper Guzmán – mainly featuring on the left wing, but occasionally swapping to the right.
Torres floated a curling free kick just past the post in the 7th and was neat, tidy and incisive with his passing and in tracking back.
Herculez Gomez was an unused sub on his return to Estadio Caliente.
Earlier Friday, Jonathan Bornstein was an unused sub as Querétaro overcame Pachuca 2-0 thanks to a goal and an assist from former Vancouver Whitecaps striker Camilo Sanvezzo.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him attom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
