Soccer

Tahuilans injury time goal earns point for Xolos

Tijuana plays to a 2-2 draw with Pumas UNAM in Copa MX match

By Ivan Orozco2012-08-29T07:21:40+00:00

Alfredo Gonzalez Tahuilan scored in injury time of the second half to save a point for Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles and play to a 2-2 draw against Pumas UNAM Tuesday night in a Copa MX Week 5 match up.

Tahuilan took a Raul Enriquez corner kick and sent in the tying goal via header after the ball went through the legs of Pumas goalkeeper Alejandro Palacios.

The goal saved a point in the Group 6 standings as the Xolos took the lead in the group with nine points. Tijuana is looking for a slot in the next round of the tournament that includes teams from the First and Second Division. Both teams play again Sept. 19 at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana in the second leg of the home-and-home series.

Tijuana could have had a better outcome in this match if it wasnt for a series of mistakes.

Pumas took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when Alfonso Nieto took advantage of a Tijuana tactical mistake.

Xolos defender Jorge Hernandez looked to send a pass backwards to teammate Joshua Abrego. Problem was that Abrego was not where Hernandez sent the ball. Nieto took the ball near the 18-yard box, went in and sent a shot past Tijuana goalkeeper Adrian Zermeno.

Pumas played with a stifling defense after that score. It wasnt until the 41st minute when the Xolos were able to penetrate and score. Richard Ruiz fed striker Fidel Martinez a filtered pass. The Ecuadorian forward didnt waste the play and finished it by sending the ball into the net for a 1-1 score.

It took Pumas only three minutes to break the tie.

Luis Garcia converted a penalty kick for Pumas to take a 2-1 lead.

Referee Cesar Ramos whistled Ruiz for a handball in the penalty area, granting the penalty kick.

The second half featured a more balanced match by both teams. Neither dominated possession, although Pumas did have two shots bounce off Zermenos right post.

But the Xolos had enough time to respond in the dying moments of the match.

Thats when Enriquez sent his corner kick, finding Tahuilan for the tiebreaker.

The Xolos return home for a regular season Apertura 2012 match against Jaguares Friday. Tijuana will be looking to continue its four game unbeaten streak since losing 4-0 to Leon July 27.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com