Tijuana Clinches Dramatic 1-0 Win Over Querétaro in Liga MX Apertura 2026 Opener

Unexpected Drama Seals Tijuana's Liga MX Apertura 2026 Opening Win

If you blinked, you might’ve missed the only thing that mattered in Tijuana’s 1-0 victory against Querétaro: the ball rattling the back of the net just before halftime, thanks to a cruel twist of fate for Querétaro defender Omar Mendoza. Instead of fireworks in attack, the own goal during stoppage time in the first half became the single decisive moment at Estadio Caliente on July 12, 2025. It’s not the kind of goal anyone dreams of scoring—but for Tijuana, it was all the luck they needed to start their Apertura 2026 journey on the right foot.

Looking at the recent backgrounds of these two teams, things couldn’t have been more different. Tijuana was riding high after smashing four goals without reply against Santos Laguna, powered by a lively José Zúñiga. In that bout, they barely saw the ball—just 41% possession—but their counterattacks struck like lightning. Querétaro, on the other hand, weren’t exactly walking into Caliente full of swagger. Though they had managed a steady 2-0 victory against Juárez, with Pablo Barrera and Adonis Preciado sharing the scoring, their place at 17th in the standings left them desperate for a brighter start.

How Tactics and Substitutes Shaped a Tight Contest

Both teams came out with lineups meant to stabilize and surprise. For Tijuana, big names like Jonathan Gómez and Joe Corona did the heavy lifting in midfield, while players such as Leonardo Vargas and Ramiro Árciga sat ready on the bench. Querétaro echoed with Adonis Preciado and Gilberto Mora in the starting squad, but their own bench saw action too, especially as the game dragged on without clear chances.

It wasn’t a match loaded with goalmouth action. Instead, it unfolded as a chess game—substitutions and cautious tactics everywhere. Tijuana adjusted with Frank González at the hour mark and Francisco Valenzuela before that, hoping to inject energy and preserve their slender lead. Querétaro’s response? They brought on Jackson Porozo and even made a late move with Jesús Vega, looking for a spark that never really came. With just 46% possession in their last outing and hardly more here, Querétaro looked short of ideas each time they reached the final third.

Truth be told, if not for Tijuana’s fortune with Mendoza’s own goal, this one could have ended with both teams sharing the points—and plenty of what-might-have-beens. Instead, Tijuana locks in three points, keeping themselves in the mid-table mix. For Querétaro, the painful memory of an own goal is a reminder of how slim the margins are in Liga MX, as they stay uncomfortably close to the bottom of the standings.

The season has barely started, yet the pressure’s already building. Tijuana will seek to ride their blend of grit and good luck into their next matches. Querétaro have to regroup fast and fix the gaps, especially in defense, if they want to climb a crowded leaderboard. There’s still a long road ahead—just don’t expect either side to take their next few games lightly.