ESTADIO CALIENTE TURNS SEVEN

TIJUANA –Those who dreamed of having professional soccer in Tijuana can still hear the final whistle of the first match played at Estadio Caliente. The dream came true when Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente kicked off at this stadium in 2007.

The new home for Club Tijuana was where the Xoloitzcuintles beat Pumas Morelos in that firt match and it was Diego Olsina who scored the first goal.

It has been seven years since that moment. Tears have been shed, laughter has been heard but all with a lot of work and dedication that has ultimately made this place worthy of being the Xoloitzcuintles home.

The stadium has been host to several important soccer events in its short history. It has hosted four tournament finals. It was part of the team’s 2010 promotional title and a LIGA MX title in 2012. It was on Dec. 2 of that year when fans filled the stadium, danced and cheered as they waited for the team to return from Toluca after wining the tournament title. Fans sang “ole, ole, ole, ole, campeon, campeon”until the team arrived close to 2 a.m. the next day.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

The stadium has also been host to notorious international tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores in 2013 and the 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League. Club Tijuana hosted teams from Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia. The Xoloitzcuintles were unbeaten in its first outing in the tournament with a 3-0-2 record, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Ronaldinho’s Atletico Mineiro from Brazil.

Club Tijuana also hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy from the United States in the CONFACAF Champions quarterfinals.

HISTORIC DATES AT ESTADIO CALIENTE

DEBUT

Nov. 11, 2007

2007 Apetura

Club Tijuana 2-1 Pumas Morelos

Goals: Diego Olsina (22’) and Raúl Enríquez (43’)

FIRST FINAL IN THE ASECNSO DIVISION

2009 Clausura

Merida 1-0 Club Tijuana (First lef – May 21)

Club Tijuana 0-0 Mérida (Vuelta– Domingo 24 de mayo)

FIRST TITLE IN ASCENSO DIVISION

2010 Apertura

Veracruz 0-2 Club Tijuana (First Leg – Dec. 1)

Goals: Mauro Gerk (35’) and Javier Gandolfi (38’)

Club Tijuana 1-0 Veracruz (Second Leg – Dec. 4, Estadio Caliente)

Goal: Raul Enríquez (55’)

ASCENSO TITLE

Championship Final 2010-2011 Ascenso

Irapuato 0-0 Club Tijuana (First Leg – May 18, Estadio Sergio Leon Chavez)

Club Tijuana 2-1 Irapuato (Second Leg – May 21, Estadio Caliente) Goals: Joe Corona (28’) and Mauro Gerk (31’)

FIRST DIVISION DEBUT

Sábado 23 de julio de 2011

Torneo Apertura 2011

Club Tijuana 1-2 Monarcas Morelia

Primer Gol en Primera División: Joe Corona (44’)

Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Baja California

PRIMERA VICTORIA EN PRIMERA DIVISIÓN COMO LOCAL

Oct. 15, 2011

2011 Apertura

Club Tijuana 3-2 Pachuca CF

Goals: Raul Enriquez (42’), Juan Pablo Santiago (48’ and 68’)

Estadio Caliente, Tijuana

FIRAT TITLE IN THE FIRST DIVISION

LIGA MX-2012 Apertura – Final

Club Tijuana 2-1 CD Toluca (First Leg – Nov. 29)

Goals: Fidel Martinez (23’) and Pablo Cesar Aguilar (39’)

Toluca 0-2 Club Tijuana (Second Leg – Dec. 2)

Goals: Richard Ruiz (69’) and Duvier Riascos (70’)