América Tactics: Almada's Rotations Cost Home Points
The Eagles' manager fielded a backup-heavy squad that allowed Tijuana to control the first half, resulting in a 1-1 draw that kept América at 28 points.
By Julian Reed ·
América failed to secure a home victory against Xolos Tijuana, drawing 1-1 on Wednesday. This result marked the second consecutive match where the Eagles dropped points on their own pitch. The draw halted their progress in the league standings.
Manager Guillermo Almada made major tactical changes for this midweek fixture. He started players who had limited recent playing time, including Alexis Gutiérrez, Ramón Juárez, and Miguel Vázquez. The lineup also featured rookie Derek Jiménez, Dagoberto Espinoza, and Alan Cervantes. Key players Israel Reyes and Henry Martín did not play a single minute. Starting goalkeeper Luis Malagón was absent from the bench entirely.
The experimental lineup struggled to find rhythm in the first half. Tijuana controlled the possession and created the better chances. The visitors capitalized on the lack of coordination among the Eagles. The match had to be played on an unusual date because América had been involved in Leagues Cup finals in September.
América entered the game hoping to extend their lead over Cruz Azul by at least four points. The team aimed to create distance at the top of the table before the final stretch. The plan fell apart as the backup squad could not match the intensity of the visitors. The gap to Cruz Azul remained unchanged at the end of regulation.
Almada reacted in the second half by introducing his first-choice players. He brought on Óscar Perea, Brian Rodríguez, Carlos Álvarez, Kevin Álvarez, and Erick Sánchez. The substitutions aimed to regain control and force a win. The team pushed forward but lacked the necessary time and cohesion to break the deadlock.
Tijuana managed the game effectively to secure a point. Their goalkeeper, José Antonio Rodríguez, made key saves to preserve the result. Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora made a return to the lineup and provided flashes of quality. His performance contributed directly to the visitors keeping the score at 1-1.
The result leaves América with 28 points in the overall standings. The draw allows their direct competitors to close the gap in the race for the top spots. The team faces Toluca next on Saturday, October 31. That match will be the final test before the decisive phase of the tournament begins.
Source: La Opinión
