After several matchdays in which scoring seemed to be a struggle for Chivas, the Rebaño finally unleashed its full arsenal. Guadalajara defeated Tijuana 5-2 on Matchday 5 of the 2026 Apertura and put on one of its most dominant offensive performances of the tournament.
The result is even more impressive because the Xolos were coming in on a roll, with 10 points and no losses. However, at Akron Stadium, they faced a Guadalajara team that came out determined to rewrite history.
And they certainly succeeded.
Santiago Sandoval Leads the Way
The match began after a long delay due to rain, which forced the kickoff to be postponed. Despite the difficult field conditions, both teams looked to score from the opening minutes.
Chivas found the back of the net first.
In the 23rd minute, Santiago Sandoval capitalized on a play inside the box and sent the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-0.
The goal gave the red-and-white team confidence, and they began to find openings against a Tijuana defense that gradually lost its composure.
Ricardo Marín Steals the Spotlight
The night began to take on a festive atmosphere for the Rebaño with the appearance of Ricardo Marín.
The forward scored the 2-0 goal in the 31st minute, capitalizing on a set piece to extend the Rojiblancos’ lead.
But that wasn’t all.
Just when it seemed Chivas would head into halftime with a two-goal lead, Marín struck again. In stoppage time of the first half, the forward converted a penalty kick to make it 3-0.
The Rebaño headed to the locker room with a commanding lead and, above all, with a feeling that had been missing for much of the tournament: confidence in front of the goal.
Chivas Doesn’t Let Up
Tijuana needed an immediate response, but Guadalajara wasn’t about to give them a chance to get back into the game.
In the 59th minute, Roberto Alvarado stepped up to score the home team’s fourth goal.
The score was already decisive, but Chivas still had more in store.
Ten minutes later, Diego Campillo capitalized on another chance and made it 5-0, sending the crowd at Akron Stadium into a frenzy once again.
The rout was practically a done deal.
Tijuana tries to salvage the result
With the match practically decided, the Xolos found some openings and managed to mount a comeback in the final minutes.
Elias Manoel scored in the 75th minute and then struck again in stoppage time, netting a brace that made the final score look a little better.
But the effort came too late.
The final score was 5-2, and Chivas celebrated a victory that could mark a turning point in their season.
Chivas Gains Ground in Liga MX
With this result, Guadalajara reached 10 points after five matchdays, thanks to three wins, one draw, and one loss. El Rebaño moved into fourth place in the standings at the end of the matchday.
Furthermore, the rout comes right after a tough stretch in which the team had struggled to find the back of the net.
Now the story seems different.
Ricardo Marín scored twice, Chivas scored five goals, and the offense finally came alive.
For Tijuana, the loss is a major setback after an undefeated start to the season. The Xolos also remain on 10 points, though they dropped in the standings due to their goal differential.
El Rebaño, meanwhile, seems to have found the formula it had been searching for: pressuring, attacking, and—this time—capitalizing on their chances.
