QUERETARO - Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente suffer yet another loss on the road. This one cost them much more than just three points as Jaimen Ayovi fell injured and looks to miss a substantial amount of time.

Manager Cesar Farias presented a semi-strong / semi-alternative lineup wanting all three points while also thinking of the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) semifinal first

leg match against Cruz Azul on Tuesday night.

Tijuana began the game controlling the ball and looking to pus forward. Dario Benedetto conducted a counterattack in the 3rd minuite. He laid the ball off to his left and allowed Herculez Gomez to have a free shot against the goalkeeper Edgar Hernandez. The America striker lacking in confidence could not make a solid shot and ended up giving the ball straight to the goalkeeper.

The early domination from the Xoloitzcuintles would not pay any dividens. In the 14th minute Ricardo de Jesus Da Silva took advantage of a slip from Xolos midfielder Javier Güemez and had a long distance shot that found its way into the top corner of the goal. The spectacular fly from Cirilo Saucedo was not enough to keep the ball out.

The visitors re-grouped and once again pushed forward looking for an equalizing goal. Following a series of mistakes from the Queretaro goalkeeper Edgar Hernandez, Dario Benedetto tied the game with a powerful long distance shot of his own.

The host once again found the lead following some defensive mistakes from the border town K-9s. Ricardo de Jesus Da Silva found the goal side of his marker Greg Garza. Cirilo Saucedo also seemed a little slow and tentative whe trying to cut off a low cross that Da Silva was able to push into the goal.

XOLOS COULD NOT BEAT THE POSTS

In the second half Tijuana pushed everything including all of their three substitutions forward looking for the equalizing goal. But luck was not on the Tijuana side on the night.

Twice Xolos leading goal scorer Cristian Pellerano shot on goal and twice Queretaro goalkeeper Edgar Hernadez got just enough of his hands on the ball to send the ball into the post of the goal.

Club Tijuana ended up playing the final minutes of the match with one less player as second half substitute Jaimen Ayovi pulled a muscle when sprinting towards a long pass. Xolos had already made all three substitutions and could not replaced the injured striker.

Ayovi had two plays where it seemed like if he wasn't injured he could have reached the ball and have clear goal scoring opportunities.

The Xoloitzcuintles will now return to the border to face Liga MX league leaders Cruz Azul in the first lef of the CCL semifinals.

Find all Tijuana Xolos news in English here.

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jonny.rico@sandiegored.com (Follow Jonny Rico on Facebook and Twitter)