Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente will remain at the top of the Liga MX standings for at least two weeks after they defeated Pumas UNAM 1-0 Aug 26 at Caliente stadium.
Gabriel Hauche’s goal in the 23rd minute, combined with goalkeeper Federico Vilar’s staunch defense of Tijuana’s goal, secured the Xolos victory as they head into a FIFA mandated international break this week.
Coach Miguel Herrera noted that the in-sync play of Hauche, Milton Caraglio and Juan Carlos Valenzuela was a sign the team may be hitting a new collective stride.
“The truth is that you are pleased when you have those players. To see the team’s functionality and seeing everyone do what they are supposed to do,” said Herrera during his postmatch news conference. “Hauche has a great attitude and great effort on the field. And today, he was provoking goals, chances at goals, penalties at the position we put him in tonight.”
During the spring Liga MX season Tijuana went an entire campaign without winning any homes games. Now, under Herrera’s first apertura with the Xolos the team is no stranger to home victories.
“There’s is a lot more to come,” Hauche said. “We need to keep working and think about getting more points. We will continue to take it game-by-game and now it’s time to think about the next one.”
The first-place Xolos’ next game is Sept. 10 at Rayados de Monterrey.
