The Tijuana Xolos played their inaugural match in the 2025 Liga MX Clausura season this Friday, January 10, against Toluca.

Club Tijuana began the new season at the Estadio Caliente,e where the team played its best football last season.

There were not many surprises in the starting 11 for Juan Carlos Osorio, as he did not start any of the new signings in this match. Raul Zuniga played up top as the lone striker, supported by Domingo Blanco, Efrain Alvarez, Emanuel Reynoso, and Kevin Castaneda.

The opening 45 minutes of the clash were exciting, with plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides and a goal for each side. Both goals came towards the latter half of the first half, with Alexis Vega opening the score for the visitors with a goal in the 38th minute. The Mexican forward scored from a shot inside of the penalty area off a cross by Paulinho in a play where goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez could have potentially been better.

Mexico 🇲🇽 national anthem at the Estadio Caliente before the inaugural match of the Liga MX 2025 Clausura for #Xolos.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/kLRiYeBctK

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) January 11, 2025

However, Rodriguez had an excellent first half as he was tested at least three other times in the first half and responded with key saves.

The Border City Dogs were able to tie up the score just before the end of the half with a goal by Raul Zuniga. “Pantera” ended last season on a hot streak and has now begun the new campaign with Xolos’ first goal in the 2025 Clausura.

Efrain Alvarez managed to get a shot inside of the box and Zuniga was perfectly positioned to strike on the rebound for the tying goal. The first half ended 1-1 in what was a hard-fought encounter at the Mictlan with plenty of excitement for the crowd of over 20 thousand spectators.

The second half turned out to be quite different from the first, with the visitors obtaining a lead in the 57th minute. Jesus Angulo crossed the sphere into the penalty area and Alexis Vega headed the ball into the back of the net in what was a very well-worked play for Los Diablos Rojos.

Juan Carlos Osorio tried to make changed to change the course of the match, but the substitutions did not work as planned. At the start of the half, Joe Corona replaced Christian Rivera. In the 61st minute, Jhojan Julio and Gilberto Mora came on for Domingo Blanco and Kevin Castaneda.

Then, in the 66th minute, Ramiro Franco replaced Rafael Fernandez, and the youngster showed his inexperience with some miscues in the backline.

Helinho came on for Toluca in the 67th minute and, in the 71st minute, went on to score via a fantastic individual play inside of the box. With 10 minutes left, the Aztec Canines tried to pull back with a goal by Emanuel Reynoso. New signing Jhojan Julio provided a cross to Reynoso as he finished the opportunity inside of the penalty area.

That goal brought back some life for the Prehistoric Dogs, but that was quickly evaporated with a goal by Paulinho in the 85th minute.

#Xolos manager Juan Carlos Osorio started the post-game press conference saying sorry to the fans.

“At home, it is unforgivable that they score four goals on us.”@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/iFakjJxmd3

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) January 11, 2025

The loss was a tough one for the Xoloitzcuintles, considering it was at home, and manager Juan Carlos Osorio did talk about that in the post-game press conference. “At home, it is unforgivable that they score four goals on us,” said Osorio. The Colombian manager said sorry to the home fans after the loss, as it was a crushing one to start the season.

Osorio also mentioned that a new signing at centre-back is very close, and there are also talks about an additional acquisition. The backline was destabilized in this match, and Osorio mentioned the absence of Spanish defender Unai Bilbao, who left a hole in Tijuana’s defense.

This was not an ideal start for Club Tijuana, and now a tough away game against Liga MX champions Club America awaits in Week 2.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.