Match recap: Monterrey 0, Club Tijuana 0

Win at home, draw on the road. These are universally understood to be keys for a successful season for clubs and Xolos have been able to take this to heart, picking up their second 0-0 draw away from home against Monterrey.

The initial pace of the match was blistering, with Monterrey keeping Xolos on the back foot. In the second minute, Stefan Medina hit a long range rocket that Gibran Lajud was forced to punch away. Possession went back and forth between the teams, with Monterrey having the better of the opportunities early.

The teams would both settle into a rhythm, however Rayados were still firmly in control of the possession. With Gustavo Bou out after aggravating an injury, Tijuana had a hard time breaking through the Rayados defense and would often lose the ball in the final third. Monterrey also had difficulties getting chances on goal, although they looked much more dangerous on the ball.

The second half started out much the way the first ended. Monterrey kept possession, but neither team really threatened much. Monterrey had a good chance in the 63rd when Medina was sprung on a great cross in from deep, but some great defending by Topo Valenzuela saw Medina’s shot roll wide of the far post.

There was controversy in the 74th minute when Damián Pérez and Avilés Hurtado battled for a ball in the box. Pérez was whistled for the foul, and Hurtado stepped up to take the kick. Hurtado sent his shot wide of the net though and Xolos were able to stay level.

Another look at the penalty shows Hurtado may have gone down a bit easy...

In the 86th minute, Rogelio Funes Mori got his head onto a ball that drifted to Lajud’s left, however the trailing player was unable to make contact with Funes Mori’s cross. Xolos were able to grind through the five added minutes of time and hold on for a crucial point on the road while Monterrey have to be disappointed they were unable to capitalize on the gifted penalty.

Rayados will host Correcaminos de la UAT in the Copa MX tournament on Wednesday before heading to Guadalajara to face Chivas on Saturday. Xolos on the other hand return to Baja California to face lowly Puebla on Friday.

Monterrey: Juan Pablo Carrizo; Leonel Vangioni, Cesar Montés, José María Bastanta, Stefan Medina; Jonathan González (Jonathan Urretaviscaya, 61’), Celso Ortíz, Arturo González; Dorlan Pabón (Julio Cruz, 95’), Avilés Hurtado, Rogelio Funes Mori

Club Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Damián Pérez, Pablo Aguilar, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Michael Orozco (Omar Mendoza, 52’); Damián Musto, Ignacio Rivero (Alejandro Guido, 79’), Luís Chávez; Ignacio Malcorra, Juan Lucero, Juan Iturbe (Miller Bolaños, 65’)

Scoring: Monterrey - None; Club Tijuana - None

Disciplinary: Monterrey - Cesar Montés (Yellow - 12’), Avilés Hurtado (Yellow - 41’), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Yellow - 89’); Club Tijuana - Luís Chávez (Yellow - 45’), Omar Mendoza (Yellow - 66’), Pablo Aguilar (Yellow - 68’), Damián Musto (Yellow - 69’), Damián Pérez (Yellow - 74’), Ignacio Malcorra (Yellow - 78’)