Tijuana Xolos & Club America draw 0-0, Joe Corona retires
Credit: Jeremy Collins(XoloGuero)/EVT Sports
The Tijuana Xolos started their 2026 Liga MX Clausura campaign this Friday, January 9, against Club America at the Estadio Caliente. The Xoloitzcuintles enjoyed success last tournament and will be looking to replicate that this season.
Another Liga MX season underway in Tijuana.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/Xasxdky4HO
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) January 10, 2026
This was also Joe Corona’s last professional match, as he had announced earlier in the week. Corona started the game and wore the captain’s armband for Club Tijuana in his last hurrah.
Other than Corona, there were no other surprises for Sebastian Abreu’s lineup, which was as follows: Antonio Rodriguez, Alan Vega, Unai Bilbao, Jackson Porozo, Rafael Fernandez, Ivan Tona, Joe Corona, Kevin Castaneda, Adonis Preciado, Gilberto Mora, and Mourad El Ghezouani.
Club America presented a very strong lineup with most of their key players in the starting 11. Facing players like Luis Angel Malagon, Alvaro Fidalgo, and Allan Saint-Maximin, this was poised to be a tough game for the Border City Dogs.
It was a very tough and close game between these two sides in the opening 45 minutes. Joe Corona played up until the 42nd minute before being replaced by Ignacio Rivero and calling it a career.
Joe Corona calls it a career. #Xolos@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/TfgYDQ2GQF
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) January 10, 2026
Corona gave the captain’s armband to goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez and greeted the rest of his teammates and some opposing players before greeting the fans around the Estadio Caliente.
Fans at the Mictlan chanted “Benny” around the stadium to say goodbye to one of the most influential players this franchise has had.
While this moment was a nice one, the game remained stagnant and unappealing throughout the second half. Club America really struggled to generate offensive play, while Club Tijuana seemed content with the scoreless result.
The Xoloitzcuintles surprisingly had more possession in this match, but were not generating much offense. Abreu tried generating a spark in the offense in the 76th minute when Josef Martinez made his Liga MX debut, replacing Mourad El Ghezouani.
However, the new signing was also unable to generate much in the closing moments of the game.
The game remained scoreless until the final whistle, with both teams combining for just three shots on target in the clash. More defensive players like Jackson Porozo and Unai Bilbao were the standouts in this match, while the offensive players struggled.
Xolos’ centre-back pairing combined for seven clearances in this match and helped maintain this scoreline. The point is a valuable one for Club Tijuana to start the new campaign.
Playing Club America is never an easy task, and gaining any points on the Mexico City team is always a luxury. The Aztec Canines will now face Queretaro on January 14, before returning home to host Atletico de San Luis on January 17.
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.