This Sunday, March 10, the Tijuana Xolos played their 11th game of the Liga MX 2024 Clausura season against Pumas UNAM at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City.

Club Tijuana was winless this season heading into this match and remained winless after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Los Universitarios.

The Border City Dogs were down 2-0 after just 15 minutes, as Rodrigo Lopez and Guillermo Martinez gave Pumas UNAM the lead in the opening moments. However, a turning point in the match came in the 26th minute when Lisandro Magallan elbowed Joe Corona in the face and consequently was sent off with a red card, and Club Tijuana was awarded a penalty.

Joe Corona remained on the pitch, but he had a mouth full of blood and was attended by the medical staff. Christian Rivera scored the penalty from the spot as he had previously in Tijuana’s 1-1 draw against Leon.

The first half ended 2-1 in Pumas’ favor, and Miguel Herrera made three substitutions at the half, replacing Joe Corona, Diego Barbosa, and Carlos Gonzalez with Eduardo Armenta, Kevin Castaneda, and Ake Loba. The initial substitutions did not work out, as Guillermo Martinez scored his second goal of the day in the 49th minute. Cesar Huerta provided an amazing assist on the play, squeezing out a pass to Martinez inside of the penalty area with little room and direct pressure by two Xolos defenders.

-3⃣ de 3⃣
-Efectividad total desde los 1⃣1⃣🐾 pic.twitter.com/pOAUCP2xrI

— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) March 10, 2024

All hope seemed lost for the Aztec Canines down 3-1, but Club Tijuana did not give up with the man-advantage they had in this match. Mateo Casares was booked with a handball inside of the penalty area and Christian Rivera scored his second penalty goal of the game in the 53rd minute.

The Xoloitzcuintles came up with the seemingly miraculous tying goal in the 76th minute when Christian Rivera completed his hat-trick with a third penalty goal on the day. Jose Zuniga was fouled inside of the penalty area and Club Tijuana were able to come back in a huge way away from home in a very tough stadium to visit.

However, Club Tijuana had the potential to win this game and generate more scoring play, being a man up for most of the clash. Club Tijuana is still winless this season and is on a 13-game winless streak dating back to last season. The Aztec Canines will face Santos Laguna this Friday, March 15, at the Estadio Caliente in a game where that first game is very possible due to Santos’ current run of form this season.

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.