The Tijuana Xolos hosted Chivas de Guadalajara at the Estadio Caliente for a game in the Liga MX 2025 Apertura this Friday, August 22. Club Tijuana was coming off a rare away victory against Pachuca in their last game.

Chivas had been struggling prior to this match on a two-game losing streak and that run of form continued at the border city.

Sebastian Abreu only made two changes to the lineup that was able to get that 2-0 road win against Pachuca. Domingo Blanco picked up a red card in that game and was replaced by Adonis Preciado. Alan Vega also replaced Pablo Ortiz in the fullback slot.

Chivas’ Richard Ledezma picked up an injury in the opening minutes of the match and had to be replaced by Alan Mozo. Shortly after that injury, Gilberto Mora opened the scoring at the Mictlan in just the fifth minute of the match.

Chivas’ backline suffered from a series of miscommunication and the ball landed at Mora’s feet. The youngster did not waste the scoring opportunity and fired a very well-located shot from inside of the penalty area.

This was Mora’s second goal in the Liga MX season and his fourth in all competitions with Club Tijuana. The visiting team controlled possession at the Mictlan, but the match was very compact and hard-fought.

The Border City Dogs had an opportunity to make it a 2-0 game by the end of the half with a penalty kick awarded. Chivas’ Diego Campillo committed a foul and Adonis Preciado stepped up take the penalty.

Preciado’s attempt was stopped by Chivas’ goalkeeper Raul Rangel and Ramiro Arciga launched the ball into the stands on the rebound.

Club Tijuana came away with the slim 1-0 lead at the half and went on to dominate the start of the second half. Franck Boya scored the second goal of the clash in the 51st minute. The African midfielder tapped the ball into the back of the net off a cross by Alan Vega. The scoring play came with some controversy as it is debatable whether Boya was in an offside position.

However, the goal was given and Club Tijuana enjoyed a 2-0 lead over the visitors. More controversy came after that goal as a red card for Ivan Tona was cancelled by VAR.

Xolos’ third goal also came with some questions as there might have been an offside position. Kevin Castaneda shot at goal and Luis Romo ended up putting the ball into his own net off the rebound.

Chivas was not out of game just yet as the visiting team managed to score their first goal of the game in the 74th minute. Erick Gutierrez launched a pinpoint pass to Armando Gonzalez inside of the box and the young striker scored easily.

Efrain Alvarez was playing against his former team in Tijuana and gave Chivas a second goal off a very precise free kick in the 84th minute. The goal was a very impressive one by the former Club Tijuana forward and it gave Los Rojiblancos a spark of life towards the end.

The final minutes of the match were very intense with Chivas looking like the better team, despite the disadvantage. The fans around the stadium also helped build the intensity with a huge majority of Chivas fans at the stadium.

Chivas kept on pushing and that tying goal came in stoppage time with Roberto Alvarado netting a fantastic goal off a potent strike from just inside of the penalty area. Club Tijuana was not putting much of an offensive effort in stoppage time and did not attack much after that goal. Chivas kept on pressing but the game ended 3-3 at the Mictlan.

The result was highly disappointing for Xolos, considering the massive 3-0 lead the team had. The Xoloitzcuintles will now have another match at home, facing Necaxa on August 31.

Xolos has a very tough schedule to finish out the year and will need to do better if playoffs are in the picture.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, 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 FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.