Mauro Laínez scored a left-footed goal assisted by Ecuadorian Miler Bolaños to break a tie and give the Xolos de Tijuana a 3-2 victory over the Monarcas de Morelia in the 2019 Apertura of Mexican soccer.
Mexican Ángel Sepúlveda (m.16), Argentine Ariel Nahuelpan (m.46), and Laínez (m.80) scored for Tijuana under the direction of Colombian coach Óscar Pareja, while Gastón Lezcano (m.29) from Argentina and Mario Osuna (m.58) from Mexico scored for Morelia.
Pareja's Xolos confirmed to be a tough opponent on their synthetic field and managed to impose conditions. In the 16th minute, Sepúlveda scored a header assisted by Ecuadorian Miler Bolaños, but Morelia responded with an elegant goal from long distance by Lezcano.
Nahuelpan restored the advantage for Xolos by tapping the ball into the net on a corner kick, and Morelia again equalized with a well-taken penalty by Osuna.
In the 79th minute, Nahuelpan had a penalty saved by Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastián Sosa, but Láinez, brother of Betis player Diego Lainez, accepted a pass from Bolaños and scored with his left foot.
With the victory, the Xolos moved up to 13th place with four wins, two draws, four losses, and 14 points, while Morelia is in sixth place with 16 points. EFE
