The Tijuana Xolos made a huge splash in the 2024 Apertura Liga MX, performing the 3-0 upset against league-leaders Cruz Azul.

However, it is the first leg of the series, with the return leg still to play in Mexico City this Saturday, November 30.

Manager Juan Carlos Osorio made five changes to his starting 11, making five changes from the lineup that started against Atlas. The Colombian manager was very experimental in this match, even playing defenders Rafael Fernandez and Unai Bilbao as strikers at one point in the match.

Osorio’s team was full of energy from the initial whistle, and Raul Zuniga was one of the key players in this match. The Colombian forward scored the first goal of the match in just the 10th minute. Christian Rivera launched a long ball forward, and Zuniga made a spectacular run to get in behind Cruz Azul’s backline.

“La Pantera” finished the goalscoring opportunity with ease for the first goal of the game. Just a few moments later, in the 19th minute, Efrain Alvarez was able to extend the lead with a very similar goal to Zuniga’s.

Goal Xolos. Raul “Pantera” Zuñiga scores in his third consecutive match. His fourth in this stretch.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/VuEKR4k6OI

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) November 28, 2024

Aaron Mejia launched a punt forward and defender Gonzalo Piovi was unable to gain control of the sphere. Alvarez burst past Piovi and was clinical in front of Kevin Mier’s net to give the Border City Dogs a 2-0 lead.

The game just went from bad to disastrous for the visitors as Jorge Sanchez received a red card in the 34th minute. The infraction by the Mexican fullback was very irresponsible, as he kicked Raul Zuniga while he was on the ground. Referee Fernando Hernandez did not hesitate and gave Sanchez the straight red card after the play.

Cruz Azul was already struggling to generate much going forward and really struggled after going down to 10 men. Just a few moments after the suspension, Emanuel Reynoso was able to put the game to bed with a third goal for the Xoloitzcuintles.

The goal was the result of a phenomenal individual effort by the Argentine playmaker as he burst past Cruz Azul’s team. Reynoso found himself in front of Kevin Mier and was never going to miss from such a close distance.

The first half was unbelievable from Club Tijuana and was totally unexpected by anyone heading into this series. The game slowed down in the second half, with Cruz Azul really trying not to concede any more goals and Club Tijuana lowering their offensive intensity.

FINAL#Xolos 3-0 Cruz Azul@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/lRU85Wcfr5

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) November 28, 2024

Juan Carlos Osorio opted to take out Emanuel Reynoso and bring on defender Fernando Monarrez at the start of the second half. Then in the 64th minute, switched out Kevin Castaneda and Rafael Fernandez with Ivan Tona and Gilberto Mora. The Aztec Canines had much of the possession of the sphere but were not generating enough offensive play.

In the 74th minute, Osorio made his last two substitutions as Joe Corona and Jaime Alvarez came on for Raul Zuniga and Christian Rivera. Xolos kept the majority of possession but had nothing to show for it in the second half. This was a missed opportunity for the border city team as Cruz Azul still has some life heading into the return-leg.

In the regular season, Club Tijuana fell 3-0 to Cruz Azul in Mexico City and a repeat of this result would result in Tijuana eliminated. However, this is still a fantastic result, and the Aztec Canines have improved massively since that 3-0 defeat at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. A defeat of that disparity is still possible but highly unlikely with the current momentum the border city team has.

“I dont know” Juan Carlos Osorio responded when asked if the 3-0 advantage was enough heading into the return-leg against Cruz Azul in Mexico City.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/4LW86nTdk7

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) November 28, 2024

“We faced the best teams of the tournament, most goals scored, less goals conceded. They play with a consistent 11, good players, well coached and trained, with a clear idea of play”, said Juan Carlos Osorio after the match. The Colombian manager also expressed how they had only completed 40 training sessions when they first faced Cruz Azul and now had 130 sessions under their belt.

Osorio expressed how the team could have scored a fourth goal but that he was satisfied with the team’s performance. When asked if the 3-0 advantage was enough heading into the away leg in Mexico City, he simply responded, “I do not know.”

The return-leg will be a very tough task for Club Tijuana and as Juan Carlos Osorio expressed it is unknown if this will be enough of an advantage against the best team in Liga MX.

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.