The Tijuana Xolos played their last game in the Liga MX 2024 Clausura season this Saturday, April 27, against Tigres UANL at the Estadio Universitario.

Club Tijuana wrapped up one of their worst seasons in franchise history with an expected 4-1 loss to Tigres, who needed the win for the possibility of earning a top-four finish in this Clausura 2024.

Andre-Pierre Gignac started the scoring very early in the 13th minute with a goal off a very powerful shot inside of the penalty area. The French striker was able to get his potent strike off a cross by Diego Lainez on the left flank. Tigres were the only team truly in the match in the 45 minutes, as the Xoloitzcuintles had no shots on target in the opening half. However, the first half ended with that lone goal by Gignac, as goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez and poor finishing played a role.

FOGONAZO 🔥 de @10APG pic.twitter.com/KZIBNfzLKe

— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) April 28, 2024

Tigres was able to capitalize in the second half with a free-kick goal by Sebastian Cordova, whose well-located strike made it a 2-0 game in the 61st minute. Tigres’ third goal of the match came in the 81st minute when Juan Brunetta scored from the penalty spot. A handball by Nicolas Diaz in an awkward play with Brunetta caused the penalty in what looked like a very unlucky play.

Club Tijuana’s consolation goal came just shortly after Brunetta’s goal when Jose Zuniga was basically gifted a goal by Tigres’ goalkeeper Carlos Felipe Rodriguez. The final goal of the game came in stoppage time when Nicolas Ibanez capitalized via a header off a corner kick by Juan Brunetta to make it the final 4-1 scoreline.

Club Tijuana was never competitive in this game, as the pregame prediction was spot on, with a very convincing win by the home side. The loss put the nail in the coffin this season for the Aztec Canines, sealing the over $5 million fee that must now be paid by the club for finishing dead last on the relegation table.

The future is very uncertain for Club Tijuana, with the investment for next season being very murky now with this significant fee that must be paid. It is not even clear if manager Miguel Herrera will stay on at the club, with his results being among the worst in his career, but his relationship with Tijuana ownership still being rock solid.

The grim campaign for the Border City Dogs is now over, with two wins, eight draws, seven losses, and 30 goals allowed to show for it. Now, a tedious offseason with plenty of very hard decisions to make kicks off, with the hope for fans that things cannot possibly get any worse for the border city side than it was in this 2024 Clausura.

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.