Match recap: Club Tijuana 0, Querétaro FC 2

History was made in Baja California, as Gibran Lajud and Club Tijuana set the record for most minutes at the start of a season. As soon as it ended though things fell apart for Xolos, with Querétaro FC winning 2-0.

Just 44 seconds in, Querétaro had their first good chance of the game when a redirection forced Gibran Lajud to make a diving stop. In the 18th minute, Lajud had to make another stop when Yerson Candelo was put through on goal, but his touch was slightly too soft, allowing the ball to get ahead of him and into Lajud’s hands. Moments later, he’d need to make another stop on the free kick.

Tijuana had their fair share of chances as well. Ignacio “Nacho” Malcorra hit a rocket in the 21st minute that just missed wide and went into the side netting.

Lajud made history in the 28th minute when he broke the Liga MX record for shutout minutes to start a season.

While Lajud’s play has been exemplary and is a big reason there’s a streak in the first place, some credit should be given to the rest of the team - especially Pablo Aguilar. Since the beginning of the Clausura, the entire team has been focused on defense and Tijuana’s place near the top of the table is evidence that this is working.

In the 49th minute, Luis Chávez hit a rocket from about 20 yards out but Tiago Volpi saw the shot the entire way and saved it easily. In the 60th, Juan Lucero got his head on a cross but it went just wide of Tiago Volpi’s net.

Then everything fell apart.

In the 65th minute, Pablo Aguilar went in hard against Everaldo Stum in the box and a penalty was awarded. Aguilar was shown his second yellow of the evening and sent off. Edson Puch stepped up and hit the ball with pace. Lajud got some of it, but not enough and the shutout streak ended at 516 minutes.

Minutes later, Miller Bolaños would be shown a straight red card for a kick to Luis Noriega, ending his shift a mere five minutes after it began. Down two men, Puch would get his second of the night when he lost his mark and slotted it home past Lajud.

Out of ideas and down two men, Xolos did their best to limit the Gallos Blancos’ attack and mitigate the damage. They were able to stop the bleeding, and the game ended without any further goals scored or men sent off.

This week, Xolos will head to Pachuca to face the Tuzos on Wednesday before hosting Pumas in a rare Saturday night game at Estadio Caliente. Querétaro will host Chivas on Wednesday before heading to León for a Saturday evening game at Estadio Nou Camp.

Club Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Damián Pérez, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Pablo Aguilar, Omar Mendoza; Damián Musto; Ignacio Malcorra, José Rivero (Alejandro Guido, 62’), Luis Chávez (Luis Mendoza. 82’); Juan Lucero (Miller Bolaños, 68’), Gustavo Bou

Querétaro FC: Tiago Volpi; Miguel Samudio, Miguel Martínez, Diego Novaretti, Hiram Mier, George Corral; Joel Sánchez (Luis Noriega, 70’), Javier Güémez, Yerson Candelo; Everaldo Stum (Camilo Sanvezzo, 86’), Edson Puch (Paolo Yrizar, 75’)

Scoring: Club Tijuana - None; Querétaro FC - Edson Puch (66’ - penalty, 72’)

Disciplinary: Club Tijuana - Omar Mendoza (Yellow - 5’), Pablo Aguilar (Yellow - 52’, Second Yellow - 65’), Damián Musto (Yellow - 69’), Miller Bolaños (Red - 73’), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Yellow - 90+3’); Querétaro FC - Joel Sánchez (Yellow - 53’), Luis Noriega (Yellow - 73’)