CLUB TIJUANA 2-3 ATLAS FC
Sep 25, 2026 • Estadio Caliente
TIJUANA —Atlas came away with three very important points in Tijuana after defeating Xolos 3-2 in a match that had plenty of momentum swings from start to finish. With the season continuing to move forward and the standings remaining tight, these are the types of points that can make a difference later on. Atlas knew it had an opportunity to put together a strong result on the road, and despite falling behind in the second half, the team continued to fight until the final whistle.
Atlas got off to a strong start, taking the lead in the 15th minute through Ryan Mmaee. The early goal gave the visitors some confidence, but Xolos quickly found a response. Mourad El Ghezouani converted from the penalty spot to bring the match back level, and the home side continued to put pressure on Atlas. That pressure eventually paid off in the 36th minute when Ignacio Rivero found the back of the net with a header, sending Xolos into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.
The second half became a battle for Atlas as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game. Chances came and went, but Atlas never stopped pushing forward. That persistence finally paid off late in the match when a VAR review resulted in a penalty for Atlas in the 87th minute. Luis Esteves stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, tying the game at 2-2 and giving Atlas one final opportunity to steal all three points.
And that’s exactly what happened. With the match seemingly heading toward a draw, Florián Monzón delivered the moment Atlas had been looking for, scoring in stoppage time from outside the box to complete the comeback. It was a huge finish in a match where Atlas had to overcome being down 2-1 and continue believing it could get something out of the game.
The 3-2 victory moves Atlas to 17 points while Xolos remain on 14. More than just another win, these three points could become extremely valuable as the standings continue to tighten. Atlas showed a lot of character to come back on the road and find a winner so late, and leaving Tijuana with all three points gives the club some much-needed momentum heading into the next part of the season.
