The Tijuana Xolos played their first away match of the Liga MX 2025 Apertura season this Wednesday, July 16, against Club America. The Xoloitzcuintles were coming off a 1-0 home win against Queretaro to start the new season.

Club America was coming off a 1-1 draw against FC Juarez, but were really expected to control this game at home. Las Aguilas did just that and had 65 percent possession in the opening 45 minutes.

Club Tijuana played with a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Ivan Tona tracking back and even joining the backline at times. Most of Xolos’ players tracked back with Sebastian Abreu really implementing a conservative approach to the match.

Abreu has expressed that he is willing to adapt his playing style based on the opponent. Facing Club America away from home, this type of defensive and conservative approach was expected.

A persistent attack by the home team eventually paid off with a penalty awarded to Club America in the 35th minute. Xolos’ Aaron Mejia made contact with America’s Sebastian Caceres inside of the penalty area and Brian Rodriguez put the scoring opportunity away from the spot.

Club America led the game 1-0 by the end of the first half, with Xolos’ goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez really making an impact. If it were not for Rodriguez, the score had the potential to be much more in America’s favor.

At the beginning of the second half, Sebastian Abreu made the decision to take out Domingo Blanco and bring on Gilberto Mora Jr.

Club Tijuana had to rely on a counterattack in this match, and that tactic soon paid off in the second half. In the 56th minute, Kevin Casataneda launched a long ball forward that found Ramiro Arciga. The Mexican forward finished the scoring opportunity quite gracefully in front of the net.

Así el PRIMER gol de Ramiro Árciga en la #LigaBBVAMX.
😎 Y así lo empató la Jauría.#J2 #AP25 | #LaLigaDeLaAfición pic.twitter.com/Kp5MfDLfR9

— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) July 17, 2025

Shortly after the goal, the match was suspended for a few minutes due to an electrical storm. The match soon resumed in Mexico City, and Club America immediately found a way to get back on top after the delay.

Isaias Violante crossed the ball into the box and found Rodrigo Aguirre, who headed a ball into the back of the net in the 65th minute. Xolos’ offense struggled heavily after that goal and never really produced much danger.

Vitinho made his debut for Club Tijuana in the 64th minute, replacing Ramiro Arciga, but also failed to make much of an impact. Abreu’s final substitutions of the match came in the 75th minute when Shamar Nicholson and Alex Gomez came on for Kevin Castaneda and Franck Boya.

Club America scored another goal in stoppage time to cement the victory at the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium.

Cuarto doblete de Brian Rodríguez con @ClubAmerica; uno en #LeaguesCup y tres en #LigaMX. 💥

¡GOLAZO! 🎯 Y así se selló el contundente triunfo de las Águilas. 👊#J2 #AP25 | #LaLigaDeLaAfición pic.twitter.com/dS6GtCutf7

— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) July 17, 2025

Brian Rodriguez scored his second goal of the match off a very well-located shot from just inside of the penalty area. This was always going to be a tough match for Club Tijuana away from home, and the loss did not come as a surprise.

While the Border City Dogs had a positive start to the season, there were some clear faults in that season opener against Queretaro. Club Tijuana will now return home to face FC Juarez on July 25 before the start of the Leagues Cup campaign against MLS teams.

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.