GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Club Tijuana went out of the Copa Libertadores on away goals after an epic quarterfinal second leg in Brazil on Thursday.
The game finished 1-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate, with Tijuana’s Duvier Riascos seeing his injury-time penalty kick saved by Atlético Mineiro ‘keeper Victor.
US international Edgar Castillo went the full 90 minutes for Tijuana, producing a tidy performance pushing high up the pitch on the left wing.
Joe Corona was an unused substitute for Xolos, who go out of their debut Libertadores campaign with just one loss, to world champions Corinthians in Brazil.
READ: Bornstein may be on move after being transfer-listed by Tigres again
Playing as a wing back with three central defenders in the first half and as a standard left back in the second, Castillo held his own against right winger Bernard, who is being linked to European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund.
Forward Bruno Piceno, revealed this week by MLSsoccer.com to have been born in the United States, was brought on in the 62nd minute.
Piceno had a golden opportunity to give Xolos the lead in the 69th when Fidel Martínez laid the ball off to put him clean through on goal, but Victor, the man of the match, saved the the 21-year-old’s effort.
Corona and Castillo now face a long trip back up north to join the US national team squad in Washington for Sunday's friendly against Germany (2:30 pm ET, ESPN2/UniMas, live chat on MLSsoccer.com).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
