Chivas USA falls 2-5 to Xolos de Tijuana

Chivas USA sported yesterday night its new home jersey before 4,238 fans and fell 2-5 during its seventh pre-season scrimmage against Mexico’s First Division Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium during the “San Diego Clasico”. With the result the Goats holds a preseason record of 2-5-0.

• During the first half of the match, a well-organized Red-and-White defensive line kept the Xolos de Tijuana attacks at bay, while maintaining possession of the ball for a better part. Most of the battle took place in the middle of the pitch. A little mistake in the defensive line put Xolos’ forward Mauro Gerk face to face with Goat’s KF Dan Kennedy who won the contest and deflected the ball for a corner kick in the 27th minute.
• Chivas USA responded by attacking from the left side of the field where forward Ryan Smith crossed to Juan Pablo Angel who did not have space and lost the opportunity in minute 29. Four minutes later, Chivas USA again through James Riley passed to Colombian striker JP Angel whose shot was deflected by Xolos’ defensive line. The Red-and-White keep on insisting this time through Michael Lahoud twice who struck the ball from outside the box but it was deflected by the defense line for a new corner kick.
• 1-0 – Englishman Ryan Smith opened the score in minute 36 attacking from the right side of the pitch; the midfielder Smith left the Xolos’ defense line behind and crossed to his left from inside the box where Michael Lahoud easily pushed the ball inside the net and scored his third goal of the pre-season.
• Chivas USA came close to scoring their second goal in minute 45+ when forward Juan Pablo Angel, coming from the left side, attempted an individual play and struck the ball looking for the right post of Xolos’ GK Adrian Zermeño barely missing the net.
• The second half started with Chivas USA showing the same attacking attitude with Juan Pablo Angel conducting the ball through the center of the field, crossing to his left for Miler Bolaños whose shot passed above the Xolos GK’s crossbar missing a good opportunity for the Red-and-White in minute 49.
• From the 50th minute, Chivas USA played the rest of the half with 10 players because of the red card ejection against Ecuadorian midfielder Miler Bolaños due to a reckless tackle.
• 1-1 – Xolos took advantage of having an extra man on the pitch and in minute 57 tied the score. Midfielder Bruno Piceno placed the ball in the middle of the box where defender Miguel Almazan, with a header to his left side, placed the ball for Raul Enriquez, who just pushed and scored for the Mexican team.
• 1-2 – At minute 64, Xolos’ midfielder Leandro Fernandez assisted Mauro Gerk, who was inside the box and appeared to be in an off-side position, chipped a shot at goal. Although Dan Kennedy controlled the ball above his head and out of the arch, the sideline assistant raised his flag and validated the second goal for Xolos de Tijuana. The main referee whistled and pointed to the middle of the pitch declaring the 1-2 in favor of the Mexican team.
• Chivas USA head Coach Robin Fraser refreshed the forward line by substituting Ryan Smith, Michael Lahoud, and Juan Pablo Angel for Alejandro Moreno, Casey Townsend and newly signed Mexican American Cesar Romero respectively in minute 69.
• 1-3 – Xolos’ midfielder Leandro Fernandez, assisted by Bruno Piceno, struck from outside the box placing the ball in the right side corner of Dan Kennedy’s goal in minute 79.
• 1-4 – Two minutes later in a doubtful play where Goat’s defender Heath Pearce supposedly held and blocked Xolos’ midfielder Piceno, the referee whistled for a PK against Chivas USA. Midfielder Noe Maya took the penalty kick and placed the ball to the right side of the arch, and even though goalkeeper Kennedy dove to the same side, he couldn’t save his team from the Xolos’ 4th score of the night in minute 81 of the match.
• 2-4 – Red-and-White forward Casey Townsend scored his second goal of the pre-season with a header in minute 88, assisted by Nick LaBrocca.
• 2-5 – A mistake in the Chivas USA defensive line placed Xolos’ forward Raul Enriquez face to face with GK Dan Kennedy who could not block Enriquez’ shot to the right and it went to the back of the net in minute 90+.
• The final score does not reflect what happened on the pitch. Chivas USA displayed a well-organized defensive and midfield lines and created several goal opportunities for the Red-and-White. The referee played a key role during the game showing five yellow cards to Chivas USA players in the first half of the match, conditioning their game and making several wrong decisions against the Carson-based team.