Match recap: Tijuana 0, Monterrey 4

Xolos’ Liguilla hopes are dealt a severe blow as they lose at home to Monterrey 4-0. Rogelio Funes Mori scored a brace as Rayados downed Tijuana, who played down a player for a majority of the match.

Xolos did well to keep pressuring Rayados early on, however Monterrey’s defense was up to the task, blocking shots and closing down passing lanes. In the fourth minute Xolos was able to get a shot off on goal but it went just over the crossbar. In the 10th minute Camilo Sanvezzo got a great ball over the top and was able to get a shot on goal, but Marcelo Barovero was well positioned and easily stopped the shot.

In the 15th minute it was Rayados that almost got a goal when a corner kick from Dorlan Pabón was redirected by Kevin Balanta and skimmed the top of the crossbar. In the 18th, Rogelio Funes Mori was played in with another ball over the top, and while his shot went wide of the net referee Jorge Rojas indicated a penalty as it appeared that Jorge Silva pushed Funes Mori from behind. Rojas went to VAR and confirmed the penalty, showing a red card to Silva for a denial of a goal scoring opportunity. Nicolás Sánchez stepped up and converted the penalty a full five minutes after the initial play.

Tijuana would immediately try to even the score, but their passes often went to a Rayados player. Rayados to their credit was content to slow down play, let the players catch up to the action, and look to exploit Xolos and find the open player. Xolos would have a decent look in the 37th when Leonel Miranda played a great give-and-go with Miller Bolaños but the resulting shot went high over the net. Two minutes later at the other end of the pitch, Diego Braghieri almost put the ball into his own net when he deflected a clearance that just whistled wide of the net.

Before the end of the half the match turned pretty physical, with both teams seeing players picking up yellow cards and multiple hard fouls were committed. As the clock struck 45’. Funes Mori hit a rocket from distance that didn’t miss GIbran Lajud’s net by much.

Just after the start of the second half Rayados had a couple of good chances but Tijuana's defense stood strong, blocking the shot and removing the danger. In the 52nd, Funes Mori was again played through with a ball over the top, but his flick on goal went justwide of the net. In the 56th, Funes Mori would play Rodolfo Pizarro in with a fantastic pass but Pizarro’s shot went just wide of the net. On the restart, Xolos drove down and Bolaños rifled a shot at Barovero. It was stopped and the rebound went to Omar Mendoza, but his shot went high.

In the 57th, Jesús Gallardo drove into the box and played a simple pass across to Pizarro. Pizarro took a touch and hit a rocket into the top of the net to extend Rayados’ lead to two.

In the 67th Rayados was able to force a trunover and the ball went to 32, who drove down and hit a ball straight at Gibran Lajud. Lajud made the save but the rebound went ot FUnes Mori for a tap in.

A minute later Funes Mori would get a great cutback pass from Carlos Rodríguez and easily hit a second past Lajud for Monterrey’s fourth of the evening.

With the result a foregone conclusion, both teams seemed to settle back a bit as the game went on. A couple of chances were left wanting, but it wouldn’t have made a difference either way.

After the international break, Xolos will host archrival León on Friday, November 22 while Monterrey will host Atlas on Saturday, November 23.

Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Aldo Cruz, Julián Velázquez, Jordan Silva, Omar Mendoza; Leonel Miranda (Washington Camacho, 75’), Kevin Balanta, Mauro Lainez; Miller Bolaños, Ariel Nahuelpan (Diego Braghieri, 30’), Camilo Sanvezzo

Monterrey: Marcelo Barovero; Leonel Vangioni, Nicolás Sánchez, César Montes, Miguel Layún (Maximiliano Meza, 61’); Celso Ortíz, Stefan Medina; Jesús Gallardo, Rodolfo Pizarro, Dorlan Pabón (Carlos Rodríguez, 46’); Rogelio Funes Mori (Vincent Janssen, 72’)

Scoring: Tijuana - None; Monterrey - Nicolás Sánchez (25’ - penalty), Rodolfo Pizarro (57’), Rogelio Funes Mori (66’, 69’)

Disciplinary: Tijuana - Jorge Silva (Red - 22’), Camilo Sanvezzo (Yellow - 34’), Miller Bolaños (Yellow - 62’); Monterrey - Miguel Layún (Yellow - 42’), Carlos Rodríguez (Yellow - 49’), Rodolfo Pizarro (Yellow - 82’)