The Play-In in Tijuana was a blow to one of Xolos’ best hopes. After a 2-2 tie on the scoreboard, the errors in the penalties taken by the Xolos opened the door for the rival to the next round, in which they will face Toluca in the Quarterfinals.
On the last day, the Águilas left the Nemesio Diez stadium badly injured with four goals.
Juan Carlos Osorio’s Xolos have their candle lit with Atlas, who eliminated Chivas. The border team was left with 10 players from the 73rd minute after the expulsion of Nicolás Díaz, who in a play hit Álvaro Fidalgo’s face with his foot.
“Against Atlas is the second great opportunity we have to qualify. We must improve competing on equal terms against the greats,” said the Colombian coach.
The goals in regulation time were from Unai Bilbao (15′) and Raúl Zúñiga (53′) for Tijuana, and for América, Brian Rodríguez (51′) and Cristian Borja (91′) scored. Alejandro Zendejas scored at the last minute, but the referee annulled it after a review that determined a handball in the play.
André Jardine, coach of América, who still has hope of revalidating the League title, commented in a conference that: “In this tournament format the important thing is to enter the league. Now we have to go step by step without fearing a rival “With Toluca it will be a tough game and we have to plan the game, the strategy, the study of the rival, what will matter in the next games is who plays better, the points that were scored will not matter.”
For his part, Uruguayan Rodrigo Aguirre, who did not miss his turn in the penalty shootout, said: “It defines us as a group and team, always trying. We deserve it. I am in the biggest club in Mexico. We went out to press and create goal situations, we deserved the draw and we deserved a victory.”
