Gilberto Mora scored twice from the penalty spot to lead Club Tijuana to a 2-0 victory over Pumas on Friday night at Estadio Caliente. The win in matchday six of the Apertura 2026 temporarily lifts the Xolos to second place in the Liga MX table, with 13 points from a record of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.
Originally reported by sports.yahoo.com, the match saw the home side dominate. A goalless first half gave way to drama after the break. The first penalty was awarded after Ruben Duarte fouled Mourad El Ghezouani in the box, and Mora made no mistake. A VAR review then overturned a yellow card for simulation against El Ghezouani, pointing to a second spot-kick, which the scorer converted again.
How did the match unfold?
Pumas played most of the second half with ten men after Pablo Bennevendo was sent off for a foul on El Ghezouani. With the numerical advantage, Tijuana controlled proceedings. Goalkeeper José Rodríguez made several key saves, while at the other end, Keylor Navas was powerless against the penalties. Substitutions from both sides did little to change the flow, though substitute Diego Abreu came close to a third goal with a shot that went just wide.
What does this win mean for Club Tijuana?
This marks Tijuana's fourth home victory of the tournament and comes after a loss away to Chivas. The team's recent form is strong, with four wins in their last five matches (WWLWW). Having scored 10 goals and conceded 7, they hold a +3 goal difference. The victory over Pumas solidifies a positive run and places the team in an ideal position ahead of their next challenge: a clash against league leaders Club America. Fans can track the team's progress on our stats page.
What troubles are Pumas facing?
For the university side, this defeat is their second of the Apertura 2026 and extends their winless run to three matches. The team is carrying poor form from a disastrous Leagues Cup campaign, where they managed just one point from a possible nine. During that competition, they also lost two key players, Sebastián Córdova and Álvaro Angulo, to injury. Manager Esteban Solari is facing his first crisis in charge, with the team's performance in Tijuana described as very poor. Their next match is at home against León, though the scheduling depends on León's result in the Leagues Cup.
What's next for Club Tijuana?
The schedule gets tougher. Next up, on Saturday, September 6th, Tijuana travels to face Club America, the current table-toppers, at the Estadio Azteca. It will be a major test of the team's aspirations. Riding high on two consecutive wins, the Xolos will look to confirm their good form against the league's best side so far. Supporters can check all the details of this and upcoming fixtures on our fixtures page. The team has shown solidity at home, and now must translate that confidence to their travels.
