Match recap: Club Atlético de San Luis 2, Club Tijuana 2

Club Atlético San Luis earned a tough point at home against Tijuana, with Felipe Gallegos getting his first goal since October of 2019 deep in stoppage to salvage a point. Fidel Martínez had a brace for Tijuana, who remain atop the table but could find themselves out of a Liguilla position if the stars align just right.

It wasn’t long before the home side got on the board. In the third minute an ill-advised pass by Jonathan Orozco lead to a poor giveaway by Esteban Pavez. Damián Batallini took possession of the ball and hit it out to Juan Castro, who dribbled forward and shot past a helpless Orozco for the easy goal.

Atleti almost doubled the lead when in the ninth minute Germán Berterame made a diving header that Orozco was in good position for and stopped. At the other end of the pitch there was some controversy in the 17th minute when several players went up for a header and it looked like it might have hit a San Luis player Jesús Piñuelas’ arm. Piñuelas and Xolos’ Mauro Manotas kicked at the ball, with Piñuelas kicking Manotas in the shin. Referee Luis Santander went to VAR and ruled it was a penalty for Piñuelas’ kick to Manotas’ shin. Fidel Martínez stepped up and knocked the penalty home to draw the sides level in the 20th minute.

Xolos would get another in the 30th minute when Xolos executed a wonderful set play off of a throw in. Brayan Angulo took the throw in, David Barbona dribbled along the side of the box, and whipped in a cross for Fidel Martínez who seemingly came out of nowhere to head the ball past Axel Werner.

In stoppage time before the half Camilo Mayada was able to rip a shot from distance that just missed tucking inside the near post.

The second half picked up where the first had left off, with both teams really testing the other out to try and break down their defenses. In the 49th minute, Batallani took a shot from distance that went just over the bar. Orozco made a great save on Berterame in the 53rd minute, stopping a close range blast with a jumping save. The game became more physical, with players fouling and picking up cards as chances at goal became fewer and further between.

Just when it looked like the match would end in Tijuana’s favor, a bouncing ball couldn’t be cleared past Felipe Gallegos, who hit a rocket of a shot through traffic and into the back of the net to salvage a draw for the home side.

San Luis heads to Mazatlán to take on Los Cañoneros on Friday, February 12 while Xolos will return home to host rivals León also on February 12.

Club Atlético de San Luis: Axel Werner; Ricardo Chávez, Ramiro González, Jesús Piñuelas, Camilo Mayada; Juan David Castro (Lucas Passerini, 59’), Jhon Duque (Jorge Sánchez, 84’), Javier Güémez (Felipe Gallegos, 59’); Germán Berterame, Nicolás Ibáñez, Damián Batallini (Pablo Barrera, 74’)

Club Tijuana: Jonathan Orozco; Brayan Angulo, Eduardo Tercero, Gonzalo Jara (Jaime Gómez, 43’), Vladimir Loroña; Esteban Pavez, Junior Sornoza (Luis Gamíz, 81’), Christian Rivera; Fidel Martínez (Miguel Sansores, 65’), David Barbona (Marcel Ruiz, 65’), Mauro Manotas (Fabián Castillo, 81’)

Scoring: Club Atlético de San Luis - Juan Castro (2’), Felipe Gallegos (90+5’); Club Tijuana - Fidel Martínez (20’ - penalty, 30’)

Disciplinary: Club Atlético de San Luis - Luis Gallegos (Yellow - 69’), Ricardo Chávez (Yellow - 88’); Club Tijuana - Vladimir Loroña (Yellow - 58’), Jaime Gómez (Yellow - 59’), Jonathan Orozco (Yellow - 68’), Miguel Sansores (Yellow - 90’)