Pachuca Defeat Tijuana 4-1 in Liga MX Clausura 2025
Liga MX Clausura 2025 campaign is gathering momentum, and Pachuca sent a big message by crushing Club Tijuana 4-1 in Matchday 12. Sunday, March 16, action at Estadio Hidalgo was a showcase of dominance of the Tuzos, who overwhelmed the affair from the first minute. Pachuca jumped to eighth position in the table with this win, and Tijuana stayed to fight from the bottom.
Match Summary: Pachuca's Stranglehold
Ever since the initial whistle, Pachuca showed their mettle. Just a minute into the third, John Kennedy was terrifyingly close to opening the scores with a thunderous shot that just refused to find its mark. The home side remained on the charge, and it was in the 26th minute that Santiago Homenchenko found himself on the scoresheet with a decent long-range strike. The goal came courtesy of a flawless free-kick movement that left Tijuana's defense rather dazed.
Only seven minutes after that, in minute 33, Pachuca doubled their lead. John Kennedy took advantage of a box defense vulnerability, passing Antonio Rodríguez without trouble.
Pachuca continued to dominate the second half. Venezuelan forward Salomón Rondón added a third goal in minute 55, reinforcing the Tuzos' grip on the game.
Tijuana regained some pride in the 82nd minute with Colombian striker José Zúñiga's strike, which brought a momentary ray of hope for the away side. All hopes of a comeback were dashed in an instant during stoppage time. Seventeen-year-old sensation Juan Alexander Sigala wrapped up the win with Pachuca's fourth goal in the 90th minute, taking the game away from Tijuana.
Match Statistics
- Possession: Pachuca 57.2% - Tijuana 42.8%
- Shots on target: Pachuca 4 - Tijuana 1
- Total attempts: Pachuca 21 - Tijuana 5
- Corner kicks: Pachuca 6 - Tijuana 4
- Yellow cards: Pachuca 2 - Tijuana 2
Thanks to 21 total shots against the five by Tijuana, Pachuca's attacking efficiency proved to be the determining factor in their landslide win.
Starting Lineups
Pachuca (4-3-3 Formation)
- Goalkeeper: Carlos Moreno
- Defenders: Luis Rodríguez, Eduardo Bauermann, Alonso Aceves, Bryan González
- Midfielders: Santiago Homenchenko, Elías Montiel, Oussama Idrissi
- Forwards: Owen González, Salomón Rondón, John Kennedy
Tijuana (5-4-1 Formation)
- Goalkeeper: Antonio Rodríguez
- Defenders: Aarón Mejía, Ramiro Franco, Jackson Porozo, Joaquín Fernández, Jesús Vega
- Midfielders: Efraín Álvarez, Frank Boya, Iván Tona, Jesús Gómez
- Forward: José Zúñiga
Tactical Analysis
Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada used 4-3-3 attacking formation, coupled with high press and open playing in the front third. The strategy allowed Pachuca to create possession and have plenty of scoring chances.
Tijuana, under caretaker manager Cirilo Saucedo, used a 5-4-1 defense. They attempted to park the bus and allow counterattacks to occur but could not contain Pachuca's sustained attack. The defensive line was continuously under pressure, and their inability to maintain possession made things even worse for them.
Impact on the League Standings
With this win, Pachuca has 18 points in the Clausura 2025 season, and its overall standing is five wins, three draws, and three losses. It is in eighth place now, and everything in the race for a playoff spot is looking great.
In the meantime, Tijuana plods along. Seventh worst with a meager seven points (two victories, one draw, and eight losses), they must improve fast if they are not to find themselves at the bottom of the table.
Conclusion
Pachuca's emphatic 4-1 win over Tijuana is not only a testament to their attacking ability but also to the strength of their tactics under Guillermo Almada. The team's ability to create scoring opportunities and control possession were instrumental in gaining the victory. Tijuana, though, need to think again in a hurry and tighten up at the back if they are to stay alive.
With the Liga MX Clausura 2025 campaign at a turning point, Pachuca will attempt to continue doing so, while Tijuana have their work cut out if they are to salvage their season. The next few weeks will be crucial for both teams as they attempt to get what they want out of their season.
