Match recap: Santos Laguna 1, Tijuana 1

Goals from Miller Bolaños and Javier Correa saw Santos Laguna and Tijuana draw in Torreón. The draw keeps both teams outside of the Liguilla standings, though there are still plenty of games left in the Clausura.

The game started out with both teams trying to settle into a rhythm. Santos kept possession well early on and got a couple of shots onto Gibrán Lajud. The tide would turn however and in the 19th minute Fabián Castillo would send a high looping ball over the back line to Miller Bolaños, who played the offside trap perfectly. Goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco would come charging out, but Bolaños would hit another high looper that he’d sprint past Orozco to and use his body to push the ball into the back of the net.

In the 29th minute there was a bit of controversy as Xolos’ forward Ariel Nahuelpán drove in towards the eighteen yard box. Hugo Rodríguez came in on a sliding tackle to dispossess Nahuelpán, and while it looked like there was a minimal amount of contact, referee Alejandro Funk kept his whistle in his pocket.

Tijuana did well to isolate Santos’ forwards, dropping players deep and keeping Javier Correa and Julio Furch man marked at all times. The early goal meant Xolos could keep possession and look to counterattack, letting the creativity of their forwards keep Santos from throwing too many players forward in the attack.

In the 48th minute, Fabián Castillo would go in past José Abella and fire off a shot on goal, but Jona Orozco stood tall and made the save.

In the 58th, Santos would draw one level when off of a Santos corner, hugo Rodríguez would head the ball to an onside Correa, who would get a redirection past Gibrán Lajud.

In the 68th there was a nasty collision between Hugo Rodríguez and Ariel Nahuelpán. Rodríguez slid in hard on Nahuelpán catching his leg on the way through. Nahuelpán fell on top of Rodríguez, landing on him with all of his weight. Both players we able to continue on, although Rodríguez got a bloody nose and yellow card for his troubles.

As the night went on, both teams seemed resigned to conceding the draw. Both managers brought out defensive substitutions, electing to play it safe and be content with taking a point from the game.

Santos will head to Mexico City to face Cruz Azul on Saturday. Tijuana will head back to Baja California to host Veracruz on Friday.

Santos Laguna: Jonathan Orozco; Jesús Angulo, Hugo Rodríguez, Hugo Nervo, José Abella; Ayrton Preciado (Deinner Quiñonoes, 71’), Diego Valdés, José Juan Vázquez, Brian Lozano (Marlos Moreno, 59’); Julio Furch (Gerardo Arteaga, 78’), Javier Correa

Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Luis Fuentes, Diego Braghieri, Julián Vázquez, Omar Mendoza; Fabián Castillo, Diego Rodríguez, Ignacio Rivero (Juan Carlos Valenzuela, 84’), Miller Bolaños (Diego González, 62’); Ariel Nahuelpán; Gustavo Bou (Luis Chávez, 74’)

Scoring: Santos Laguna - Javier Correa (58’); Tijuana - Miller Bolaños (19’)

Disciplinary: Santos Laguna - Javier Correa (Yellow - 49’), Hugo Rodríguez (Yellow - 71’), Gerardo Arteaga (Yellow - 90’); Tijuana - None