Gilberto Mora was the standout performer as Club Tijuana secured a 2-2 draw away to CF Pachuca in Matchday 9 of the Liga MX Apertura. The midfielder opened the scoring from the penalty spot and later provided the assist for his side's second goal, though they ultimately conceded a late equaliser under intense pressure.
The result keeps Tijuana in fifth place in the league standings, with 14 points from eight matches. Mora, who now has five goals in seven appearances this season, is the club's top scorer and again proved his value in a difficult away fixture.
Tijuana set up with a defensive five-at-the-back system and stunned the hosts with an early goal. In the 17th minute, Gilberto Mora coolly converted a penalty to make it 0-1. The advantage was doubled before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Jesus Gomez headed home a precise cross from Jesús Vega, who had received the initial pass from Mora, to score the 0-2.
Pachuca, with 58% possession and 29 shots, eventually turned their dominance into goals. Salomón Rondón pulled one back in the 55th minute following a pass from Javier Vallejo. In a tense finale, home manager Benjamín Mora was sent off for abusive language in the 91st minute. However, from the ensuing play, Rondón struck again to level the match with a header assisted by Sergio Barreto, sealing the 2-2 final score.
The draw earns Tijuana a valuable point away to a direct rival, keeping them in the playoff positions. The team showed offensive efficiency, with five of their eight shots on target, but endured constant pressure. Goalkeeper Antonio Rodríguez was key with nine saves.
Manager Sergio Abreu made changes to refresh his side, withdrawing Mora and Ramiro Árciga after 63 minutes. With this result, the team's recent form reads two wins, one draw, and two losses from their last five outings.
The next challenge comes on Saturday, September 26, when Tijuana host Atlas at the Estadio Caliente. Their opponents sit seventh in the table, promising another tight contest for points.
