GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Michael Orozco Fiscal came up with a huge performance to help 10-man Puebla to a 1-0 win over Club Tijuana on Friday, in the opening round of matches in the Liga MX Apertura 2014.
Playing on the right of three center backs, Orozco Fiscal was heavily involved in keeping Xolos at bay and should’ve been awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute when he was taken out by Elio Castro inside the area in Estadio Caliente.
Two minutes after halftime, the Californian – who missed out on the World Cup after injuring his hamstring late last season – used a lunging tackle to stop a shot from Javier Guemez that looked to be heading into goal, helping to defend the lone goal scored in the 9th minute by Luís Loroña.
For Club Tijuana, left back Greg Garza was the only American starter, picking up a yellow card in the 54th minute and struggling for his usual consistency.
Joe Corona replaced him off the bench in the 83rd and went close to snatching a draw for his side deep into injury time, but Guemez’s cross from the right wing was just behind the 24-year-old, who put the shot over the bar.
Eighteen-year-old Amando Moreno was an unused sub for Xolos, who were lackluster in chasing the equalizer after Efraín Cortés had been sent off in the 67th for spitting – as TV replays confirmed – in the face of Xolos striker Darío Benedetto.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him attom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
