“Colorado Rapids vs Club Tijuana: Leagues Cup thriller ends with Tijuana winning 2-1”
10 key match points (with integrated picture details)
1. Historic first encounter
During this Leagues Cup group stage match, Colorado and Tijuana faced off for the first time in club history.
Date and time: August 3, 2025 7:30 p.m., MT (9:30 p.m., ET)
Location: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
2. Tijuana takes early lead
Shortly before halftime, Jackson Porozo found the net in the 39th minute after a rebound off the post, putting Tijuana up 1-0.
3. Crucial own goal equalizes score
Just minutes into the second half, Porozo inadvertently put the ball in the goal on a rebound, tying the score at 1-1.
4. Arciga’s game-winning goal
Substitute Ramiro Arciga made an immediate impact, scoring on another rebound in the 72nd minute to put Tijuana’s lead back to 2-1.
5. Crucial saves on both ends
Goalkeepers Zack Steffen (Colorado) and Antonio Rodriguez (Tijuana) made several big stops to keep the match tight until the end.
6. Colorado controlled possession
The Rapids dominated with 63% possession compared to Tijuana’s 37%, but couldn’t convert the possession into more goals.
7. Tijuana’s incisive attack
Despite losing its first match, Club Tijuana showed resilience—taking advantage of rebound opportunities and keeping a strong hold in the final third.
8. Colorado’s rotation rhythm disrupted
Consequently, without star midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, the Rapids deployed a rotated lineup and struggled to maintain a consistent rhythm.
9. Impact on knockout hopes
This result keeps Tijuana’s chances alive in the first stage, while Colorado still controls its fate in the final group match.
10. Final score and tournament context
Final score: Tijuana 2, Rapids 1
Colorado is now 1-1-0; Tijuana is also 1-1-0 in the first stage standings.
“In doing so, the victory keeps the fierce MLS vs. Liga MX rivalry alive in the 2025 Leagues Cup.”
Match Highlights
Club Tijuana’s opportunism and superb finishing earned them a historic win on the field, while Colorado’s failure to break through the interior pressure and lack of key players was evident in the end result. Both teams enter their remaining group matches with little hope of knockout qualification—and the margin for error is now even smaller.