San Jose Earthquakes striker Timo Werner (#11) battles for the ball with Club Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Rafael Mora Zambrano (#15) during a friendly match between the two clubs at PayPal Park on Friday JUL 3, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Earthquakes took to the pitch after over a month off for the World Cup break.

Club Tijuana of Liga MX defeated the Quakes 2-1 in an exhibition friendly match on Friday evening at PayPal Park.

Club Tijuana drew first blood in the sixth minute when Adonis Preciado headed in an Ignacio Rivero corner kick to make it 1-0. Just like that San Jose found themselves chasing the game.

The Earthquakes came close to answering four minutes later when a Timo Werner cross from the left wing was almost headed home by a surging Jamar Ricketts in the box.

San Jose scored the equalizer in the 16th minute with a high pressured attack. Preston Judd recovered the ball on the right wing and then found Beau Leroux in the center of the box. The midfielder took one touch and before Xolos goalkeeper Salím Hernández with a shot to make it 1-1.

The Quakes had an excellent chance to score in the 25th minute when Hernández came off his line and Daniel Munie was point-blank range in front of net, but the ball was cleared before he could muster a shot off

Then in the 40th minute, Judd had his own chance in the six-yard box, but his backheel for the far post was just wide. Two minutes later, Tijuana recaptured the lead when Preciado took the ball on the left wing, cut inside, and blasted a curler for the far post past Quakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. to make it 2-1 as the teams headed into the intermission.

In the second half, San Jose made wholesale changes, substituting out all 11 starters. The second wave of Quakes created chances almost immediately.

Jack Skahan unleashed a long-range attempt from the edge of the box that was deflected over the crossbar in the 48th minute. In the 61st minute, Club Tijuana called on their bench to replace half the lineup.

With time running out for San Jose, they turned on their sense of urgency. Bruce Arena’s squad had their opportunities to equalize once more but could not find the second goal. Their last descent chance to equalize came in the 89th minute when Paul Marie created space in the box on the middle left channel but his attempt was blocked. The ensuing corner kick floated dangerously inside the box but was punched away by Hernandez.

Homegrown midfielder Edwyn Mendoza, made his Quakes debut as he had a shot blocked in the first minute of stoppage time. San Jose gave it one last go when Jack Jasinski’s cross from the right wing spun toward net, but Marie’s header landed wide left.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to MLS play when they host Orlando City SC on Wednesday, July 22, at 7:30pm from PayPal Park.