UNBEATEN INTO THE QUARTERFINALS

Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente finished the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 6-0 win against visiting CD Victoria of Honduras in a Week 4 Group 7 match Thursday night at Estadio Caliente.

Herculez Gomez scored three times in the second half while Diego Olsina, Paul Arriola and Emmanuel Cerda each scored in the first half. Gomez completed the “hat trick” in his debut with the Xoloitzcuintles after being out with an injury suffered during the preseason. 

Club Tijuana finished the group stage unbeaten with 10 points in the standings, securing a slot in the next round of the tournament. CONCACAF Champions League action resumes in March with the quarterfinals of the 24-team international tournament featuring teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean. 

Olsina scored in the 17th minute while Arriola scored in the 32nd. Cerda added his goal three minutes later while Gomez came off the bench at the half to complete the rest of the scoring with goals in the 60th, 68th and 85th minute. He is the only player to score more than one goal in each of the last three Champions League tournaments.

“We were able to take advantage of some of their mistakes,” said Club Tijuana coach Jorge Almiron. “We could have scored more. We continued to try and score after we made some substitutions as those players also wanted a piece of the score. To score three goals in a match is important but we know (Gomez) still needs more time on the field.”

On the field, Victoria couldn’t handle the Xoloitzcuintles’ speed.  Arriola and Olsina created quick plays, catching the defense off guard. Arriola and Olsina both scored their second goals of the tournament Thursday. Arriola beat Victoria goalkeeper John Bodden on a one-on-one play while Olsina finished a quick give-and-go play with Cerda to score. Cerda scored on a pass from Aldo Polo.

“The midfielders did a great job,” Almiron said. “The movement that Arriola and Olsina had was key for us in this match and honestly, I didn’t imagine this kind of production. I think people left today a little bit more confident.”

Gomez appeared confident. His goals came on quick plays, one on a long filtered pass by Cristian Pellerano, another on play inside the area and the third when he took a deflection and buried his shot to the right of Bodden, sealing the win. It was Club Tijuana’s second win against Victoria in the group stage. The Xoloitzcuintles traveled to La Ceiba, Honduras and played to a 3-2 win last month. Almiron’s squad will now return to LIGA MX play when it travels to face Puebla FC Sunday Sept. 29 and then heads to Mexico City to play Club America Tuesday Oct. 1.