The Tijuana Xolos played Pumas UNAM for a game in the Liga MX 2025 Clausura this Tuesday, February 25, at the Estadio Caliente. Both teams were struggling heading into this match, Club Tijuana in penultimate place before this match.

Juan Carlos Osorio made four changes from Tijuana’s previous match against Puebla. Frank Boya, Ivan Tona, Kevin Castaneda, and Ramiro Franco came in for Aaron Mejia, Francisco Contreras, Joe Corona, and Domingo Blanco.

The Border City Dogs suffered a 2-0 loss against Puebla away from home and really seemed to feel the urgency from the initial whistle in this match. Kevin Castaneda opened the scoring from the 34th second of the match with a very precise chip shot over Pumas’ goalkeeper Alex Padilla.

#Xolos make it a 2-0 game in just the third minute. Efrain Alvarez gets the goal. This is a must-win game for Club Tijuana. Seems like the assignment is understood.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/CPRsnX6LDh

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) February 26, 2025

The goal came from a series of rebounds and a very well-located pass by Shamar Nicholson, who passed the ball to Castaneda. Almost immediately after that first goal, Efrain Alvarez was able to extend Xolos’ lead in just the third minute of the game.

Alvarez released a shot into the penalty area from the right flank that Pumas’ defender Jose Galindo deflected into his own net. Alvarez was credited with the goal, and Shamar Nicholson was credited with another assist in the match.

Nicholson’s night became even better as he was able to get on the scoresheet in the 36th minute with a shot from inside of the box off an assist by Alejandro Gomez. Nicholson was clearly the best player on the pitch for Xolos also with an offside goal and goaline clearance in this first half.

Pumas were disastrous defensively in this match, and that led to more goals for the Border City Dogs in the second half. Juan Carlos Osorio took advantage of the game flow to experiment with some substitutions.

Alan Vega, Jhojan Julio, Gilberto Mora Jr., Aaron Mejia and Fernando Madrigal came on for Efrain Alvarez, Raul Zuniga, Frank Boya, Jackson Porozo and Unai Bilbao.

Ramiro Franco and Alejandro Gomez transitioned to the center-back positions in what was a more aggressive approach by Osorio. These changes also helped maintain team fitness with another game on the weekend to come.

The Xoloitzcuintles extended their lead in the 46th minute as Alan Vega scored his first-ever Liga MX goal. The goal came off a beautifully constructed play by the Aztec Canines as Ivan Tona crossed the ball into the box to find Kevin Castaneda. Castaneda then passed the ball to Vega, who ran up on the cusp of the penalty area and fired a potent shot to score.

#Xolos “It was great, with a lot of emotion and effort. This goal is dedicated to my family that was always there for me, for my dad and mom.”

Alan Vega after scoring his first-ever Liga MX goal.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/1rpLzHHNYy

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) February 26, 2025

Xolos were by far the more dominant team, but Pumas UNAM scored a consolation goal in the 62nd minute with a goal by Ignacio Pussetto. The game lost plenty of momentum after this goal with Pumas scoring  a second goal, but in stoppage time. Santiago Trigos cut Xolos’ lead to two goals, but it was far too late as Club Tijuana came away with the 4-2 win.

This win was a very significant one as the Prehistoric Dogs snapped a five-game losing streak. Shamar Nicholson and Alan Vega had significant games as both scored their first goals in their Liga MX career.

Alan Vega talked with the press after the game and emphasized how important this goal was. “It was great, with a lot of emotion and a lot of effort. This goal is dedicated to my family that was always there for me, for my dad and mom”, said Vega.

Club Tijuana will face Leon away from home this Saturday, March 1, in what is expected to be a very tough match. Club Tijuana is still in 16th place after this win, and it would need to be nearly a perfect end to the season for Xolos to make the playoffs.

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.