Match recap: Tijuana 1, Querétaro 1

Despite having been the better team for most of the match, Xolos would only come away with one point on the evening, drawing Querétaro 1-1 at Estadio Caliente.

Tijuana had a great chance in the second minute when MIller Bolaños sprung Ariel Nahuelpán on a break, but the big man’s shot skimmed along the turf just wide of Gil Alcalá’s net. A minute later Camilo Sanvezzo would be played in, hit a ball off of a prone defender, and kick it out of midair but it was deflected up and over the bar.

Xolos would do well to take the game to Querétaro, not allowing the visitors to get many offensive touches. Diego Braghieri would hit a header in the 14th minute that went just wide of the net. As the clock hit the 20 minute mark, Nahuepán would chest a ball at the edge of the box and hit a chilena (bicycle kick) that went just wide of the net.

Tijuana kept the pressure on throughout the majority of the first half, keeping Querétaro pinned in their own half. It would pay off in the 36th minute when Tijuana would take advantage of a quick restart. would float the ball into the box, and Alcalá went up to punch it. Braghieri and Alcalá collided, but Braghieri was able to head the ball on to Washington Camacho, who poked the ball home for his second goal in as many games for Tijuana.

Disaster almost struck in the 41st minute when off of a corner kick the ball went out to Jesús Escoboza, who took a shot from the top of the box that beat Gibran Lajud but ricocheted off of the post and out to safety. It was Quertaro’s first shot on goal of the game.

In the 48th, Querétaro would get a throw in dee p in Xolos territory. Diego Braghieri would head the ball at an awkward angle, forcing Lajud to make a diving save to slap the ball away from danger. In the 51st, Diego Braghieri would run into Aké Loba from behindin the box, and without hesitation a penalty was awarded. Jordan Sierra would step up and convert to draw the sides level.

The goal seemed to inject life into Querétaro, and Tijuana suddenly found themselves on their heels. Tijuana did get a good chance in the 72nd minute when Miller Bolaños lobbed a cross that just missed the lunging Omar Mendoza. In the 81st, Ángel Sepúlveda would get a header that hit the post and out. Moments later at the other end it would be Aké Loba getting on a cross that would be tipped just wide of the goal.

Try as they might, Xolos simply couldn’t find the go ahead goal and were forced to settle for the draw.

These two clubs will meet again on Tuesday at Estadio Caliente for the opening round of the Copa MX tournament. Tijuana will then go to CDMX to face Club América on Saturday while Querétaro will return home to host Cruz Azul on Saturday as well.

Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Omar Mendoza (Luis Fuentes, 77’), Julián Velázquez, Diego Braghieri, Leonel Miranda; Miller Bolaños, Kevin Balanta, Ignacio Rivero, Washington Camacho (Ángel Sepúlveda, 80’); Camilo Sanvezzo (Antonio Nava, 67’), Ariel Nahuelpán

Querétaro: Gil Alcalá; Alexis Pérez, Jair Pereira, Luis Romo, George Corral; Jordan Sierra, Jaime Gómez (Clifford Aboagye, 61’), Jesús Escoboza, Fabián Castillo (Jeison Lucumí, 74’); Ayron Del Valle (Omar Arrelano, 84’), Aké Loba

Scoring: TIjuana - Washington Camacho (36’); Querétaro - Jordan Sierra (51’ - penalty)

Disciplinary: TIjuana - Fabián Bazán (Yellow - 55’), Omar Mendoza (Yellow - 68’), Diego Braghieri (Yellow - 90+3’); Querétaro - Jair Pereira (Yellow - 7’), Jesús Escoboza (Yellow - HT), Alexis Pérez (Yellow - 53’)