“Win from the start.” –Jorge Almiron

TIJUANA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente returns to LIGA Bancomer MX action Tuesday May 30 when it hosts Pachuca FC in a Week 3 match up (7:30 p.m. Pacific) at Estadio Caliente.

Coach Jorge Almiron’s team closed out preparations for the match against Pachuca with a morning practice Monday.

“We have prepared to win the game,” Almiron said during a news conference at Estadio Caliente. “We are very motivated, waiting to face a tough rival. We will go out and try to win from the start knowing that we are facing a good counterattacking team.”

Almiron talked about how important fans are at the stadium.

“We have to take advantage that we are at home,” Almiron said. “We hope to play a great game with our great fans behind us and get the three points in this match.”  

MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF CHRISTIAN BENITEZ

Almiron remembered the death of Ecuadorian soccer player Christian Benitez.

“We are shocked. He was a young player with plenty of potential,” Almiron said about the player’s death July 29. “The first thing that comes to mind is his family and to send them our support from Tijuana. Soccer loses a great player and human being that has left plenty to his family and soccer.”

GAMES BETWEEN CLUB TIJUANA AND PACHUCA FC

Club Tijuana and the Tuzos have faced each other four times in the Mexican First Division. Club Tijuana is 2-1-1 against Pachuca. The Club’s first ever win in Mexico’s top flight league came against Santos Laguna Week 4 of the 2011 Apertura but it the first home win came against Pachuca. It was at Estadio Caliente where the Xoloitzcuintles beat the Tuzos Oct. 15, 2011 in a Week 13 match of the 2011 Apertura. Raul Enriquez (42nd minute) and Juan Pablo Santiago scored (48th and 68th) for Club Tijuana.

After Tuesday’s match, the Xoloitzcuintles will travel to Morelia to face Monarcas in a Week 4 matchup Aug. 2 at Estadio Morelos.

MATCHES BETWEEN CLUB TIJUANA AND PACHUCA FC:

FIRST DIVISION

2011 APERTURA

Week 13

Club Tijuana 3-2 Pachuca CF

0-1/ 21’ Joshua Abrego (TIJ-Autogol)

1-1/ 42’ Raul Enríquez (TIJ)

2-1/ 48’ Juan Pablo Santiago (TIJ)

2-2/ 62’ Elias Hernandez (PAC)

3-2/ 68’ Juan Pablo Santiago (TIJ)

2012 CLAUSURA

Week 13

Pachuca CF 1-0 Club Tijuana

1-0/ 62’ David Muñoz (PAC)

2012 APERTURA

Week 4

Pachuca CF 2-2 Club Tijuana

0-1/ 33’ Pablo Cesar Aguilar (TIJ)

1-1/ 60’ Felix Borja (PAC)

1-2/ 65’ Fernando Arce (TIJ)

2-2/ 88’ Nery Castillo (PAC)

2013 CLAUSURA

Week 4

Club Tijuana 2-0 Pachuca CF

1-0/ 57’ Alfredo Moreno (TIJ-Penal)

2-0/ 84’ Raul Enriquez (TIJ)

YOUTH TEAMS IN ACTION

Club Tijuana’s Under-20 and under-17 squads also play Tuesday July 30. The Under-17 team coached by Ignacio Ruvalcaba faces Pachuca’s youth team at 12:45 p.m. The U-20 team plays at 4 p.m. (Pacific).