TIJUANA, Mexico (Interstat) — In a stunning opening-night upset that defied statistical projections, Tijuana delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Tigres UANL on Thursday in a Liga MX match at Estadio Caliente.

The home side, known as Xolos, dominated the fixture from the outset, handing the heavily favored Tigres a decisive defeat to start the season. The result was a dramatic reversal of pregame expectations, as analytics firm Interstat had projected a 1-1 draw and gave Tigres a 70.6 percent probability of winning.

Tijuana’s attack was relentless, finding the net three times while the defense held firm to secure a clean sheet against a Tigres squad that entered the competition with high expectations.

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute from an unlikely source. Defender Kevin Castañeda surged forward to open the scoring, giving Tijuana an early lead and setting the tone for the evening. The goal energized the home crowd and put Tigres on the back foot.

Just before halftime, Tijuana doubled its advantage. In the 54th minute, forward Mourad El Ghezouani found the back of the net, capitalizing on the home team’s sustained pressure. The goal gave Tijuana a firm 2-0 lead heading into the break, leaving Tigres with a significant deficit to overcome.

Any hopes of a Tigres comeback were effectively extinguished in the 71st minute when Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora put the game out of reach with a well-taken goal, sealing the 3-0 scoreline. The goal was assisted by substitute Juan Brunetta, who had entered the match earlier. Brunetta’s involvement was eventful, as he also received a yellow card in the eighth minute, one of three cautions issued in the match.

The game’s physical nature was reflected in the officiating. Following Brunetta’s early booking, Tigres’ Jackson Porozo was shown a yellow card in the 49th minute. The sequence continued just a minute later when Tijuana’s Jesús Alberto Angulo was also cautioned.

The victory provides a perfect start to the new Liga MX campaign for Tijuana, which begins the season with one win and zero losses. For Tigres, the loss marks a disappointing start, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss in the competition. The records are identical for both clubs across all competitions for the new season.

The comprehensive nature of the win signals a potentially promising campaign for Tijuana, which outperformed all expectations against one of the league’s perennial contenders. For Tigres, the performance raises immediate questions as the team looks to rebound from an unexpectedly one-sided defeat.