By
The Charales de Chapala suffered a painful 2-1 loss to Saltillo Soccer FC in the first leg of the semi-finals of Zone B of the TDP League. The match was held on Wednesday, May 13, at the Juan Rayo Municipal Field.
Captain Emmanuel Enciso ignited hopes in the 8th minute of the first half, after connecting a solid header inside the box that put the locals ahead. However, the visitors responded at minute 29 through Braulio Ordóñez, who capitalized on a defensive error to secure the partial draw before halftime.
During the second half, the Coahuila squad maintained its offensive pace and managed to turn the score at the 55th minute with a goal by Edwin Rodríguez. Despite the Charales’ persistence in the final minutes, Saltillo’s defensive bloc stood firm, securing a narrow victory.
The fate of the series will be decided next Sat., May 16, at 7 pm in the Francisco I. Madero Olympic Stadium. The Charales will travel to Saltillo needing to overturn the aggregate score to secure a ticket to the Zone B grand final.
The Charales reached this semifinal after a historic comeback against Aves Blancas on May 9, winning 2-0 in regulation with goals from Yahir Ascencio and Elías Ramírez, then advancing in a dramatic penalty shootout. Previously, in the first leg of the quarterfinals, the Chapala team suffered a setback, losing 0-2 at home to the Tepatitlán squad.
Translated and edited by Debra Fairbanks
