Club América and Club Tijuana were level at 1-1 at halftime in their postponed Week 7 match in the 2026 Liga MX Apertura, with both teams finding a way to score in a first half that matched the live update’s clear contrast: América controlled possession, while Tijuana looked to counter.
How the first half unfolded
Before kickoff, the players were already on the field going through the pre-game protocol at Banorte Stadium, and the lineups set the tone for a matchup that quickly became a tactical battle. Sebastián Abreu was starting the 11 players for Club Tijuana’s away game against the league leaders, and the Xolos stuck with a counterattacking approach.
That plan paid off once in the first half when Elias Manoel scored for Xolos on a counterattack. América answered through Borja, who scored to bring the home side back level. By halftime, there was one goal apiece and the game remained finely balanced at 1-1.
Key moments that shaped the draw
Toño Rodríguez played an important role in keeping Tijuana level, making at least two saves during the first half. Those stops mattered because América’s control of possession meant the home team was spending more time around the attacking third, even if Tijuana still found space to break forward when the chance opened up.
With the match tied at the break, the postponed fixture still had plenty left to settle. For América, the question was whether sustained possession could turn into a lead. For Tijuana, the challenge was whether the counterattack could produce another opening against a team that had already responded once. In a game already delayed from its original schedule, the second half was set up to decide whether the league leaders could turn pressure into three points or whether Xolos could keep pace on the road.
