Xolos defeat Pachuca 3-1 and keep Liga MX playoff hopes alive

Xolos deliver at home and stay alive

Club Tijuana earned an important 3-1 win over CF Pachuca in Tijuana, keeping their playoff hopes alive in the Clausura tournament.

After securing a point in Mexico City against Cruz Azul, the border club returned home needing all three points against one of the strongest teams in the league.

Gilberto Mora makes the difference

From kickoff, the team coached by Sebastián Abreu showed a familiar approach: defensive discipline, controlled possession, and quick transitions.

The return of Gilberto Mora to the starting lineup after injury proved crucial in midfield creativity.

Two goals before halftime

Late in the first half, Pachuca conceded a penalty that gave Xolos the chance to open the scoring.

Gilberto Mora missed the initial attempt but scored on the rebound to make it 1-0.

Soon after, in the 37th minute, Diego Abreu beat several defenders with a strong individual run before scoring the second goal.

His celebration with father and coach Sebastián Abreu became one of the night’s defining images.

Control and a third goal

The second half slowed down, with Club Tijuana focused on protecting the lead.

In the 82nd minute, Pachuca conceded another penalty. Josef Martínez converted to make it 3-0 and score his first goal for the club.

Late mistake spoils the clean sheet

What looked like a perfect night ended with a late defensive lapse.

At 90+6, Víctor Guzmán scored for Pachuca after an error in buildup play, making it 3-1.

After the match, Sebastián Abreu criticized the late mistake, saying it did not reflect the team’s identity.

Playoff hopes still depend on others

Despite the win, Club Tijuana still has not secured a playoff spot.

To qualify, they must defeat Chivas in their next match and hope rivals such as Atlas FC, Tigres UANL, and Club León drop points.