Xolos fall 2-1 to Santos on Matchday 10 as pressure grows on Tijuana

Pressure continues to rise for Tijuana

Tijuana, Baja California — March 9 — As the Clausura 2026 tournament progresses, the pressure continues to grow for Club Tijuana, who have managed only one victory so far this season.

Matchday 10 presented an important opportunity for Xolos to earn three points and stay in the playoff race against a Santos Laguna side that had collected only two points entering the match.

Surprises in the starting lineup

When the starting lineups were announced, one of the biggest surprises was that team captain Ignacio “Nacho” Rivero began the match on the bench, while Frank Boya, who had just returned from a multi-week injury absence, was named in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, the club’s young Mexican prospect was not called up due to a lingering pubalgia injury that has kept him sidelined, though he was present at the stadium supporting his teammates.

Santos controls the game while Toño Rodríguez shines

From the opening minutes, it became clear that Santos would control much of the game, while goalkeeper Antonio “Toño” Rodríguez delivered another strong performance and continued making a case for national team consideration.

One bright spot for Xolos was the performance of Frank Boya, who looked sharp in his return to the starting lineup and created several scoring chances that were denied by Santos goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo.

In the 8th minute, Santos thought they had taken the lead when Ezequiel Bullaude scored, but the goal was ruled offside. The Argentine midfielder previously played for Xolos before being sold by manager Sebastián “Loco” Abreu.

Goals arrive in the second half

The scoring finally began early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Ezequiel Bullaude scored a well-worked goal to give Santos a 1-0 lead, applying the classic “former player rule.” Out of respect for his former club, the Argentine chose not to celebrate.

Things became even more difficult for Xolos in the 58th minute when Jackson Porozo received a red card for a dangerous challenge, leaving the home side with ten players.

To adjust tactically, Abreu sacrificed two of his best performers — Frank Boya and Adonis Preciado — bringing on Alejandro Gómez and Diego Abreu, the coach’s son.

Xolos equalize, but Santos snatches the win

The substitutions appeared to work in the 71st minute when Alejandro Gómez pushed forward and scored the equalizer to make it 1-1.

However, that would be the final offensive highlight for Tijuana.

In stoppage time, Santos nearly won it in the 90+8 minute through Lucas Di Yorio, but the goal was ruled offside. Just a minute later, Jesús Ocejo scored the decisive goal in the 90+9 minute, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory and Santos’ first win of the tournament.

Fans show frustration at Estadio Caliente

At the final whistle, boos echoed around Estadio Caliente as frustrated supporters reacted to the team’s ongoing struggles.

During the post-match press conference, Santos coach Omar Tapia expressed satisfaction with the result while acknowledging there is still room for improvement.

Meanwhile, Sebastián “Loco” Abreu pointed to his team’s lack of finishing as the main reason behind their poor run of results. He also emphasized the importance of mental health support in Liga MX clubs, suggesting teams should consider incorporating psychologists to help players manage the mental side of the sport.

A difficult schedule ahead

Xolos will now prepare for two away matches before returning to the “Mictlán” to face Tigres.

However, doubts around Abreu’s project are beginning to grow, and fans appear increasingly tired of encouraging words without results on the field.