In the first round of the Liga MX playoffs, Toluca FC emerged victorious with a thrilling 2-1 win over FC Juárez. The match was full of excitement, as the Diablos Rojos battled back after trailing early on. Jesús Murillo opened the scoring for the home side with a header just three minutes into the first half.
However, Toluca FC made a fantastic comeback, tying the game with a header from Antonio Briseño in the 55th minute. Shortly after, Paulinho sealed the win with a stunning goal at the 65-minute mark, placing the ball expertly into the bottom right corner after receiving a perfect assist from Diego Barbosa. It was a strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance!
A notable moment in the match came when Robert Morales of Toluca FC struck the wooden post mere minutes after their first equalizer, narrowly avoiding what could have been a decisive equalizer for his side.
Paulinho was undoubtedly the standout player, netting the decisive goal for Toluca FC. Another key player was Marcel Ruiz, who made his presence felt by taking four shots on target, pushing his team forward energetically.
FC Juárez’s coach, Martín Varini, set up a 4-5-1 formation, featuring Sebastián Jurado in goal, alongside Denzell García, Jesús Murillo, José García, and Manuel Mayorga in the defense. The midfield consisted of Guilherme Castilho, Homer Martínez, José Rodríguez, Rodolfo Pizarro, and Ricardinho, while Óscar Estupiñán lead the attack.
Conversely, Toluca FC, managed by Antonio Mohamed, adopted a 4-4-2 setup with Hugo González in goal, backed by a defense comprising Diego Barbosa, Antonio Briseño, Andrés Pereira, and Jesús Gallardo. The midfield featured Nicolás Castro, Franco Romero, Marcel Ruiz, and Jesús Angulo, with Robert Morales and Paulinho spearheading the offense.
The match was officiated by referee Maximiliano Quintero Hernández.
With this favorable outcome, Toluca FC will carry their momentum into the second leg as they aim for a place in the semifinals, scheduled for Saturday, November 29.
Substitutions for FC Juárez
20’ 1H – José García out for Diego Ochoa
62’ 2H – Ricardinho out for Raymundo Fulgencio and Óscar Estupiñán out for Ángel Zaldívar
90’ 2H – Homer Martínez out for Dieter Villalpando and Rodolfo Pizarro out for Leonardo Rodríguez
Yellow Cards for FC Juárez:
16’ 1H Homer Martínez, 28’ 1H Diego Ochoa, 33’ 2H Manuel Mayorga, and 40’ 2H Rodolfo Pizarro
Substitutions for Toluca FC
56’ 2H – Robert Morales out for Helio Nunes
74’ 2H – Jesús Angulo out for Héctor Herrera
92’ 2H – Nicolás Castro out for Fernando Arce and Paulinho out for Everardo López
Yellow Card for Toluca FC:
35’ 1H Diego Barbosa