Portugal’s Paulinho scored three goals to lead Toluca’s attack in their 4-2 win over MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday.
Paulinho, three times, and Argentine Nicolás Castro scored for the Mexican soccer champions, who dominated, but showed defensive lapses, which Brazilian Gabriel Perec and German Marzo Reus took advantage of to score for the Galaxy.
Toluca strikes first and sets the pace of the match
The Mexicans imposed conditions from the first minutes.
In the 12th minute, they reflected their superiority on the scoreboard with a right-footed goal by Castro off a pass from Uruguay’s Federico Pereira.
At their home stadium, 2,600 meters above sea level, the Galaxy were never comfortable against an opponent with the ball.
Later, in the 43rd minute, Toluca mounted a counterattack that ended with a right-footed goal by Paulinho off a pass from Jesus Angulo.
The Americans took advantage of the Mexican defense’s disarray and scored in the 66th minute with a goal by Pec off a pass from Germany’s Marco Reus.
The 2-1 win allowed the Galaxy to boast an away goal, a decisive criterion in the event of a tie in the series.
Paulinho sentences the duel
View this post on Instagram
Dissatisfied that, despite dominating, they only had a one-goal lead, the Diablos pushed forward.
In the 73rd minute, Toluca widened the gap with a left-footed tap into the net by Paulinho, assisted by Jesus Angulo.
Galaxy pulled within 3-2 in the 77th minute, with Reus scoring on a pass from Argentine Julian Aude.
Paulinho was at it again and in the 85th minute he scored his third goal, a left-footed strike into the net, taking advantage of a defensive lapse.
The second leg will be played next Wednesday at the Galaxy’s home.
The winner of the series will play in the semifinal against the winner of the Cruz Azul-Los Angeles FC duel.
Technical data
View this post on Instagram
The Mexicans imposed their conditions from the opening minutes
QuéOnnda.com
4. Toluca: Luis García; Federico Pereira (Luan García 45+1), Santiago Simón (Diego Barbosa m.84), Bruno Méndez, Franco Romero; Nicolás Castro, Jesús Gallardo (Mauricio Isais m.84), Jesús Angulo; Helinho (Everardo López m.70), Paulinho, Alexis Vega (Franco Rossi m.84).
Coach: Antonio Mohamed.
2. Los Angeles Galaxy: J T Mareinkowski; John Nelson (Julian Aude m.72), Carlos Garces, Maya Yoshida, Miki Yamane (Mauricio Cuevas m.80); Harbor Miller (Justin Haak m.59), Elijah Wynder (Marco Reus m.59), Edwin Carrillo; Joao Klauss, Erik Thommy (Lucas Sanabria m.80), Gabriel Pec.
Coach: Greg Vanney.
Goals: 1-0, 12th minute: Nicolás Castro; 2-0, 43rd minute: Paulinho; 2-1, 66th minute: Gabriel Pec; 3-1, 73rd minute: Paulinho; 3-2, 77th minute: Marco Reus; 4-2, 6th minute: Paulinho.
Referee: Héctor Saíd Martínez, of Honduras. Yellow cards for Bruno Méndez and Edwin Cerrillo.
Incidents: First leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, held at Estadio Nemesio Diez, in Toluca, at 2,600 meters above sea level.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
