Rondón Rescues Pachuca Thriller in 2-2 Liga MX Draw

With seconds left on the clock, Salomón Rondón sent the Estadio Hidalgo into pandemonium, crashing home an equalizer to rescue a 2-2 draw for Pachuca against Club Tijuana in a heart-stopping Liga MX Apertura ninth round clash.

Tijuana Stun Pachuca with Penalty Opener

The visitors silenced the home crowd in the 17th minute when Gilberto Mora cooly converted a penalty, sending Carlos Moreno the wrong way. Pachuca pressed for an immediate response, but Tijuana’s compact 5-4-1 formation held firm, limiting Los Tuzos to speculative efforts from distance.

Jesús Gómez Doubles Tijuana’s Lead

Just before half-time, Tijuana struck again on the counter. Jesús Vega released Jesús Gómez with a perfectly weighted through ball, and the midfielder finished emphatically into the bottom corner to give Los Xolos a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Pachuca made a triple change at the break, including withdrawing winger Oussama Idrissi after his first-half yellow card. The substitutions injected urgency into the hosts’ play, and Rondón gave them life in the 55th minute, glancing in Javier Vallejo’s pinpoint cross.

Rondón’s Redemption in Stoppage Time

As Pachuca poured forward in search of an equalizer, Tijuana sat deep, defending their box desperately. But in the 90th minute, Sergio Barreto delivered a teasing cross from the right, and Rondón rose highest to power a header past Antonio Rodríguez, sparking wild celebrations.

The drama wasn’t over yet, as Benjamín Mora was sent off in added time for a reckless challenge. Despite being down to ten men, Pachuca held on for a hard-earned point that keeps them in the playoff hunt, while Tijuana will rue missing out on a vital victory.

What This Result Means for Both Teams

A draw feels like a win for Pachuca after Rondón’s late heroics, extending their unbeaten run to three games. Los Tuzos remain firmly in the playoff mix, but their defensive vulnerabilities will concern manager Benjamín Mora.

For Tijuana, it’s a bitter pill to swallow after coming so close to a famous away win. Sebastián Abreu’s side showed resilience and tactical discipline, but their inability to hold onto leads continues to haunt them.

Key Moments

17′ ⚽ Club Tijuana — Gilberto Mora

42′ ⚽ Club Tijuana — Jesus Gomez (assist: Jesús Vega)

55′ ⚽ CF Pachuca — Salomón Rondón (assist: Javier Vallejo)

90′ ⚽ CF Pachuca — Salomón Rondón (assist: Sergio Barreto)

90+1′ 🟥 CF Pachuca — Benjamín Mora Mendívil sent off