Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles held on to a 2-1 win against Tigres UANL Friday night at Estadio Caliente with first half goals by Fernando Arce and Alfredo Moreno to remain unbeaten at home this season.

The Xolos survived a late surge by Tigres, one of Mexico’s top teams and a favorite to win the 2012 Apertura tournament.

Tigres (2-1-2, 8 points) came into the Week 5 matchup unbeaten and in third place in the overall standings. Tijuana was able to slow a high-powered Tigres offense by keeping the ball and attacking early.

The Xolos (3-1-1, 10 points) came out attacking and creating a handful of scoring opportunities in the first half. Tijuana insisted with the attack until the first goal came in the 14th minute.

That’s when Moreno took a Joe Corona centered pass facing away from goal, made a half turn and blasted a shot past Tigres goalkeeper Enrique Palos.

Corona helped create another scoring chance when he sent a pass to Diego Olsina on the left flank. Olsina, who was making his debut in the Mexican First Division, sent a shot at goal only to have it blocked by Tigres defender Hugo Ayala at the goal line. But Arce was there to take the rebound and sent in a header for a 2-0 Xolos lead. It was Arce’s third goal of the season.

Tigres came out of halftime with a more fluid brand of soccer, sending attackers up field. The strategy paid off in the 63rd minute. That’s when Elias Hernandez sent in a shot past Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo. The play was set up on a soft touch pass by Tigres defender Pablo Aguilar. It was the first goal given up by Saucedo on his home turf.

The Xolos, who are 3-0 at home, almost added a third goal when striker Raul Enriquez, who came in for Moreno in the 70th minute, hit the crossbar in the 75th minute.

Turns out Tijuana didn’t need any more scoring.

With the win, the Xolos move into second place in the overall standings, tied with Club Leon, who played to a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul Friday night. Toluca leads the standings with 12 points heading into the weekend.

The Xolos travel to Mexico City to face Club America in a Week 6 match up Aug. 24 but not before hosting Celeya FC Tuesday night at Estadio Caliente in a Copa MX game. The Celaya match is the second leg of group play in the Copa MX, a domestic tournament between clubs from the First and Second Division. Celaya beat the Xolos 2-1 in the first leg after an own goal by Tijuana late in the match.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com