The Tijuana Xolos played their first home game of the 2024 Liga MX Apertura season this Friday, July 12, against Chivas at the Estadio Caliente.

The Border City Dogs began the season with a surprising 2-1 away win against Queretaro and followed that up with a massive 4-2 win against Chivas.

There was arguably no bigger way to begin the season at home, with Chivas drawing in an enormous fanbase to the border city fortress. 23,333 fans filled the seats at the Mictlan in what was a festival of lights and goals at the Estadio Caliente.

Juan Carlos Osorio made six total changes to his lineup that was used against Queretaro. Jose de Jesus Corona, Unai Bilbao, Rafael Fernandez, Joe Corona, Alan Vega, and Kevin Castaneda replaced Antonio Rodriguez, Nicolas Diaz, Kevin Balanta, Christian Rivera, Fernando Madrigal, and Efrain Alvarez.

Osorio started the match with a three-man backline with two supporting wing-backs that had a much more offensive role in this formation. Joe Corona and Aaron Mejia were key in the midfield to start the match, pressing Chivas heavily when trying to regain possession of the ball.

26′ #Xolos get a 1-0 lead with a goal by Domingo Blanco. Joe Corona with the assist.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/EiIUwXxlCQ

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) July 13, 2024

The first goal of the match came in the 26th minute when Joe Corona sent in a cross to Domingo Blanco, who found the back of the net with a shot inside of the penalty area. That goal was the lone goal of the first half in a 45 minutes where Club Tijuana was clearly the better team on the pitch. The Xoloitzcuintles were closing the spaces and Chivas were relying heavily on Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to try and generate offensive play.

Juan Carlos Osorio made some substitutions at the half, bringing on Nicolas Diaz, Fernando Madrigal and Christian Rivera for Unai Bilbao, Joe Corona and Kevin Castaneda. The Colombian manager switched up his formation to a four-man backline, which initially did not seem to be working. Chivas were pressing the home side and came very close to breaching the score with two consecutive offside goals by “Chicharito” Hernandez.

However, Osorio made a very key substitution in the 62nd minute when Raul “Pantera” Zuniga replaced Carlos Gonzalez. Zuniga made an immediate impact as he scored a goal in the 64th minute via a header off a cross by youngster Alan Vega.

Club Tijuana had a 2-0 lead, which Chivas was able to dwindle in the 69th minute with a goal by California native Cade Cowell. However, the Aztec Canines were able to hold onto the lead and even add to it with a goal from the penalty spot by Christian Rivera in the 86th minute to make it a 3-1 game.

Tijuana’s final goal in the game came in stoppage time when Raul Zuniga was able to score his second goal of the match to make it 4-1. The scoring play started when Chivas’ Jesus Orozco tried to shield the ball, but the Mexican defender tripped and the ball was free for Alan Vega, who crossed the ball to Zuniga in the box.

Chivas was able to score one more goal in the following minutes by 21-year-old Armando Gonzalez, but it was a bit too late at that point of the match. The game ended 4-2 in Club Tijuana’s favor in what was a highly entertaining clash at the Estadio Caliente with an immense atmosphere. The team is practically unrecognizable from last season with a very clear focus and game plan with new manager Juan Carlos Osorio.

Final #Xolos 4-2 Chivas. Xolos only had one home win all of last season and only two wins in the season. Two games in, Xolos have two wins into the new season.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/ILKt0pFLMA

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) July 13, 2024

Unfortunately, the night was far from perfect, as it was reported that a spectator was shot and killed in the Estadio Caliente parking lot following the match. Initial reports indicate that the shooting had to do with a brawl that started inside of the stadium shortly after the end of the match.

The Liga MX and Club Tijuana along with local authorities are still looking into the tragedy in what really put a huge damper on what had been a festival of football at the Mictlan.

The Border City Dogs have two wins in two games this season and had two wins in all of last season to compare the absurd difference this season to last. Club Tijuana will face Cruz Azul and Atletico San Luis away from home before facing LAFC in the Leagues Cup at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on July 26.

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.