América's 28-point streak hits a wall as Tijuana forces a 1-1 draw

The Liga MX regular season continued on Wednesday with a midweek fixture that disrupted the standard schedule. Club América faced C.F. Pachuca's rivals, Xolos Tijuana, in a match played at the Azulcremas' home ground.

América secured one point from the encounter, finishing the game with a 1-1 draw. This result marked the club's second consecutive home match without a victory. The draw prevented the team from extending their lead over their nearest competitors in the general standings.

Manager Guillermo Almada made substantial changes to the starting eleven for this contest. He deployed players who had seen limited minutes earlier in the tournament. The starting lineup included Alexis Gutiérrez, Ramón Juárez, Miguel Vázquez, and rookie Derek Jiménez. Dagoberto Espinoza and Alan Cervantes also began the match. These selections replaced several regular starters, altering the team's usual structure.

The tactical shift affected the first half significantly. Tijuana controlled the pace of play, exploiting the lack of cohesion in the American squad. The visitors capitalized on the disorganization to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities during the opening 45 minutes.

América altered its approach in the second half. Almada introduced five substitutes to shift the momentum. Colombian midfielder Óscar Perea, Brian Rodríguez, Carlos Álvarez, Kevin Álvarez, and Erick Sánchez entered the field. Despite the numerical advantage in fresh legs, the team struggled to regain full control of the match.

The bench management raised questions among observers. High-profile players Israel Reyes and Henry Martín, the team's top scorer, remained on the sidelines without entering the game. Starting goalkeeper Luis Malagón was not even listed as a substitute, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the squad selection.

The match date was unusual due to calendar adjustments made in September. The original schedule was modified because of América's participation in the Leagues Cup finals. The club intended to use this midweek opportunity to build a four-point cushion over Cruz Azul, their closest pursuer in the points table.

Xolos Tijuana relied on strong defensive efforts to secure the point. Goalkeeper José Antonio Rodríguez made key saves to keep the score level. Veteran forward Gilberto Mora returned to action, providing creative moments for the visitors. His contribution helped stabilize the team's performance in the final stages of the match.

Following the result, América holds 28 points in the league classification. The draw narrowed the gap between the leader and the teams behind them. The next scheduled match for the Azulcremas is against Toluca on Saturday, October 31, which will determine their standing as the season moves toward its final phase.