Chivas Defeats Tijuana 2-1, Ending Four-Game Winless Streak

Chivas de Guadalajara ended a four-game winless streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tijuana at Estadio Akron. In front of a smaller-than-usual crowd, the home team finally delivered a much-needed win, featuring Alan Pulido’s first goal since his return and another from Roberto Alvarado. Raúl Zúñiga scored Tijuana’s lone goal, but it was not enough to deny Chivas the victory.

A Promising Start for Chivas

From the opening whistle, both teams struggled with accuracy, but Chivas had the first clear chance at goal. Just two minutes into the match, Jesús Corona gifted the ball to Luis Romo inside the box, but the midfielder’s shot failed to find the target.

In the 18th minute, Romo got another chance after a defensive error from Xolos, this time hitting the crossbar. Alan Pulido attempted a follow-up header, only for Corona to come up with a crucial save.

Despite the early missed opportunities, Chivas finally capitalized at the 27th minute. Romo reached the byline and sent a low cross to Pulido, who turned quickly and fired a stunning shot into the top corner. The goal marked Pulido’s first since rejoining Chivas, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

⚽️⚽️ Con goles de @alanpulido y 'Piojo' Alvarado:

🇫🇷 ¡GANÓ EL GUADALAJARA! 🇫🇷#UniónChivas 🫂 pic.twitter.com/31iDvdC3gc

— CHIVAS (@Chivas) February 10, 2025

Roberto Alvarado Doubles the Lead

The momentum was entirely on Guadalajara’s side, and just two minutes later, they extended their lead. Another Xolos mistake in the backline allowed Mateo Chávez to intercept and send a sharp pass into the box. Roberto Alvarado calmly finished from close range, making it 2-0 in the 29th minute.

At that point, Chivas appeared in full control, dominating possession and creating continuous pressure in Tijuana’s half. However, a defensive lapse in stoppage time allowed Xolos to pull one back before halftime.

Raúl Zúñiga’s Header Gives Tijuana Hope

In added time of the first half, Tijuana’s Kevin Castañeda delivered a precise corner kick into the box. Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel misjudged his attempt to clear, leaving Raúl Zúñiga unmarked to head the ball into the net.

Despite Chivas’ dominance, Tijuana’s goal just before the break changed the dynamic of the game, forcing Guadalajara to adjust their strategy in the second half.

Second Half: Chivas Holds On for the Win

Chivas resumed the game with a more controlled approach, prioritizing possession and defensive stability. However, Tijuana started threatening more, with their best chance coming in the 61st minute, when Efraín Álvarez forced a save from Rangel inside the box.

Looking to secure the match, Chivas introduced Cade Cowell, who made an instant impact with two powerful shots. However, veteran goalkeeper Jesús Corona denied both efforts with impressive saves.

Tijuana’s comeback hopes suffered a major setback in the 80th minute, when Joaquín Fernández received a red card for a reckless challenge on Luis Romo. Down to 10 men, Xolos still managed to come close to equalizing.

In the 85th minute, Gilberto Mora fired a long-range shot that struck the post, narrowly missing what could have been a dramatic equalizer.

Despite the late scare, Chivas successfully held on to claim all three points and move up in the Liga MX standings.

What’s Next for Chivas and Tijuana?

Chivas will now shift their focus to Concacaf Champions Cup action, where they will host Cibao FC on Wednesday in the second leg of their eliminatory round. With an away goal advantage, Guadalajara is in a strong position to advance.

Tijuana, meanwhile, remains near the bottom of the Liga MX table and will need to quickly regroup before their next league fixture.

Key Takeaways from Chivas’ 2-1 Victory Over Tijuana:

• Alan Pulido scores his first goal since returning to Chivas.
• Roberto Alvarado extends the lead, capitalizing on defensive mistakes.
• Raúl Zúñiga pulls one back for Xolos just before halftime.
• Chivas withstands late pressure to secure three crucial points.

With the win, Guadalajara regains confidence as they prepare for upcoming challenges, while Tijuana faces an uphill battle to improve their season.