Pachuca confused Toluca through a whopping 5-1 in the first leg Thursday of the Liga MX final.
With the goal from Romario Ibarra, Gustavo Cabral, Nicolas Ibañez and Mauricio IsaiahLos Tuzos has a pretty big lead in the two-legged championship series.
In Toluca’s crowded and noisy Estadio Nemesio Diez, Pachuca quickly silenced the crowd after Ibarra found the back of the net in the eighth minute through a midfielder’s counter-attack. Erick Sanchez.
After 13 minutes, Pachuca’s Cabral then grazed a cross from a free kick from Victor Guzman make it 2-0.
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Although Toluca would eventually fight back with more possession in the first half, Pachuca was ruthless with their attacking opportunities, yielding an additional Ibarra goal in the 36th minute and another from Mauricio Isais. at the 41st minute.
Los Tuzos was not on the bench after halftime. Immediately after returning to the pitch, the winger Paulino de la Fuente controlled a bounce and then perfectly set up Ibañez to find the net again in the 53rd minute and make it 5-0 in favor of Pachuca.
Desperate to continue racing for the Mexican top-flight title, Toluca pushed forward in the late stages of the second half.
Changes from manager Ignacio “Nacho” Ambriz that have brought life to the hosts have been given a small lifeline through substitutions Jordan Sierra. After a great run from Leonardo Fernandezthe midfielder hit the pass for Sierra, who scored in the 78th minute to make it 5-1.
The Estadio Nemesio Diez audience erupted in cheers after the goal, then chanted “Toluca, si se puede” (Toluca, yes we can) guiding the home team to a number of opportunities in the minutes. moribund.
In injury time, the opportunity to shorten Pachuca’s advantage appeared through a penalty. Toluca’s Fernandez stepped up but then failed to capitalize on his free-kick effort in the 97th minute, saved by goalkeeper Pachuca Oscar Ustari.
The Liga MX final will conclude on Sunday with the return leg at Pachuca’s Estadio Hidalgo. While Los Tuzos are currently very close to lifting a trophy after losing to Atlas in the championship series last season, Toluca will continue to push through for a miraculous comeback that could win the title. 11th champion.
