Chivas bounced back to grab a 3-3 tie against Xolos de Tijuana in a marvelous Liga MX match. Chvas turned a disastrous night to an heroic one when they were able to overcome two injuries and a three goal deficit to get a tie in a match where they were the better side. Chivas got their first away point of the 2025 Apertura just before they return home to face off against Cruz Azul while Tijuana will host Necaxa in the last match before the FIFA break.
The first half started with Chivas coming out with Efrain
Alvarez and Armando Gonzalez up top while Xolos had young sensation Gilberto Mora from the start. Two minutes into the match, Richard Ledezma injured himself and had to be subbed out for Alan Mozo. After getting into the area, Ramiro Arciga would let the ball in the path of Gilberto Mora, who got off a right footed shot past Chivas’ goalkeeper, Raul Rangel to score and give Xolos the early 1-0 lead. After going into the area, it looked like Adonis Preciado was pushed in the area by Mozo but nothing was called. A cross into the area was volleyed by Alvarez but Tijuana’s goalkeeper, Jose Rodriguez, made a good save. From outside the area, Erick Gutierrez got off a left footed shot that went wide. After getting into the area, Preciado got off a left footed shot that was saved by Rangel. Off a counter, a shot from Frank Boya turned into a pass that Kevin Castañeda, who sent his shot from close range way wide in a bad miss. After making a good move in the area, Alvarez got off a right footed shot that went wide. After a great backheeled pass from Gonzalez, Alvarez got off a left footed shot that went just wide. A longball into the area was lowered by Saul Sandoval but Rodriguez got to the ball and took the ball off his feet, getting kicked by Sandoval in the process. After a free kick, there was a clear foul on Boye by Diego Campillo that wasn’t called but after going to VAR, the ref corrected and gave Xolos a Penalty Kick. Preciado stepped up to take the PK but he got off a terrible right footed shot that was blocked by Rangel and although the ball fell to Castañeda, he sent his right footed shot to the stands. A left footed shot would go into the path of Gonzalez, who just whiffed with his slide. The match ended and although Chivas should have tied the match with all the chances they had, the match remained in Xolos favor.
The 2nd half started with Chivas subbing out Miguel Tapias, Diego Campillo and Alan Mozo for Roberto Alvarado, Daniel Aguirre and Cade Cowell. A low cross into the area from Jesus Vega which found Frank Boye, who would get off a right footed shot past Rangel and into the net to score and give Xolos the 2-0 lead. There was a controversy for a possible offside but the match remained. After throwing an elbow to a Chivas player, Ivan Tona got red carded. Incredibly after going to VAR, the referee changed the card to Yellow. After a cross into the area was badly cleared, Castañeda would get to it and get off a right footed shot that was blocked by Rangel but right into the path of Gilberto Mora who got off a shot that deflected off Luis Romo and went into the net to score. Although the play was ruled as offside, it was corrected by VAR and the goal stood for the 3-0 lead. Chivas’ night continued to be disastrous for them as it looked like Aguirre had injured himself and would have to get subbed out when he had gone in at halftime. Miguel Gomez was subbed in his place. A great pass in the area from Gutierrez found Armando Gonzalez, who got off a left footed shot past Rodriguez to score and place the score at 3-1. Tijuana subbed out Kevin Castañeda and Ramiro Arciga for Joba Gonzalez and Vitinho. A header from Gonzalez would go just wide. Tijuana subbed out an injured Rafael Fernandez for Joe Corona. A shot from Gilberto Sepulveda from outside the area went wide. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Boye. Off a free kick from outside the area, Efrain Alvarez got off a magnificent left footed shot pass the wall and Rodriguez and into the net to score and set things at 3-2. After Chivas gifted the ball, Mora got off a shot from the halfway line but it went wide. After making a great play, Roberto Alvarado would get off a wonderful left footed shot that went past Rodriguez and into the net to score a great goal that tied the match at 3-3. It was a deserved tie for a Chivas side that had been terribly unlucky and might have deserved more than Xolos. Off a corner kick, from close range Gonzalez headed it wide. A great counter from Chivas ended with Gutierrez taking too long to get off the shot and getting it cleared. It was the last chance and Chivas rescued a great tie in a match they might have deserved better.
Chivas’ 2025 Apertura season had been a struggle and they needed a result on Friday. It looked like another disastrous result when they went down 3-0 in a match where they were unlucky. Two injuries and a couple of dubious decision hurt them although they had also benefited from a previous bad decision from the poor job done by Referee Katia Itzel. Yet Chivas got a tie that gives a boost to the team and Coach Gabriel Milito. Chivas will have a tough battle in their next match, when they host Cruz Azul before going on a FIFA break. Tijuana will be hosting Necaxa, who will be a tough match for them in their pre FIFA break match.
