Match recap: Club Tijuana 2, Mazatlán FC 3

Mazatlán got a gritty win on the road, coming from down two goals just before the halftime whistle sounded to get a 3-2 win in Tijuana. With the win, Mazatlán goes from outside the repechaje zone to leapfrog Xolos. Tijuana meanwhile continues to slide closer and closer to being out of the playoffs altogether, falling from a Liguilla spot a few weeks ago.

Mazatlán had a good chance early on when a shot was saved by Benny Díaz and the rebound headed toward Camilo Sanvezzo but it was scrambled away before he could make his former team pay. It was Xolos that got the first goal however in the fourth minute when Mauro Manotas made a fantastic touch on a cross in to lose his defender, hitting a fast shot past goalkeeper Daniel Gutiérrez before much of the Mazatlán defense even knew what happened.

Then in the 18th minute Xolos had a great breakaway when Fidel Martínez was played ahead and went in on the goalkeeper, who dove and swiped the leg drawing the penalty and earning a yellow card in the process. Martínez then converted the penalty for his seventh goal of the season.

Martínez had a great opportunity to add another in the 24th when he got a great back pass from Manotas but he rushed his shot a bit and sent it well into the stands. Xolos were exploiting long balls down their right side, allowing Christian Rivera to make runs and then cross into Manotas and Martínez who were alternating making runs into the box.

In the 28th Jordi Cortizo was shown a straight red card for a collision with Roberto Meráz but referee Jorge Rojas went to VAR and saw the contact was minimal and overturned the red card, declining to issue a yellow much to the protestations of the Mazatlán players and bench. In the 42nd there was another stoppage as there was a VAR review after Fernando Aristeguieta and Vladimir Loroña got tangled up in the box. Rojas reviewed it and awarded the penalty to Mazatlán. Camilo Sanvezzo hit one into the top corner of the net to draw Mazatlán back within one before the half.

In the second half, Tijuana continued to create the better chances. Esteban Pavez ripped a shot just wide in the 47th minute. Mazatlán was able to start creating some opportunities as the game went on, but Tijuana was able to defend well and keep the pressure on the visitors. In the 63rd another penalty would be whistled for Mazatlán when Vladimir Loroña brought down a player in the box. Sanvezzo stepped up again, and again he smashed one home, this time into the bottom corner.

After the teams drew level, both were fairly cautious but still able to create chances. Tijuana had a good chance in the 81st but a cross just missed the foot of a sliding Miguel Sansores. Then as the clock passed the 90 minute mark, Ulíses Cardona hit a cross into the box that Michael Rangel headed past Benny Díaz for the game winning goal for Mazatlán.

Tijuana heads to Guadalajara to face Chivas on Saturday, April 17 while Mazatlán returns home to host Atlas on Friday, April 16.

Club Tijuana: Benny Díaz; Brayan Angulo, Gonzalo Jara, Víctor Guzmén, Vladimir Loroña; Junior Sornoza (Miguel Sansores, 71’), Esteban Pavez, Christian Rivera (Christian Castillo, 71’), Jordi Cortizo (Marcel Ruiz, 46’); Fidel Martínez (Edgar López, 46’), Mauro Manotas (Fabián Castillo, 60’)

Mazatlán FC: Daniel Gutiérrez; Carlos Vargas, Salvador Rodríguez (Jorge Padilla, 65’), José Ortíz, Israel Jiménez (Rodrigo Millar, 72’); Giovanni Augusto, Roberto Meráz, Néstor Vidrio, Gael Sandoval (Ulíses Cardona, 39’); Fernando Aristeguieta (Luis Mendoza, 72’), Camilo Sanvezzo (Michael Rangel, 72’)

Scoring: Club Tijuana - Mauro Manotas (4’), Fidel Martínez (20’ - penalty); Mazatlán FC - Camilo Sanvezzo (45’ - penalty, 65’ - penalty), Michael Rangel (90’)

Disciplinary: Club Tijuana - Vladimir Loroña (Yellow - 56’), Gonzalo Jara (Yellow - 79’)Marcel Ruiz (Yellow - 88’), Fabián Castillo (Yellow - 89’); Mazatlán FC - Daniel Gutiérrez (Yellow - 19’), José Ortíz (Yellow - 61’), Rodrigo Millar (Yellow - 87’)