In an intriguing encounter held at the BBVA Bancomer Stadium, CF Monterrey faced off against Toluca FC, ultimately succumbing to the Red Devils with a score of 1-0 in the opening match of the Clausura. The decisive moment came in the 55th minute when Helio Nunes found the back of the net, sealing the victory for Toluca.
CF Monterrey had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the game, but Sergio Canales missed a crucial penalty in the 87th minute, unable to convert and bring his team back into the contest.
The standout performer of the match was Toluca’s goalkeeper, Hugo González, whose remarkable performance earned him the title of Man of the Match. He demonstrated his skills by saving seven shots, proving to be a formidable barrier against Monterrey’s efforts.
Helio Nunes was also pivotal in the game, not only scoring the winning goal but also taking three shots at goal, showcasing his offensive prowess against the Monterrey defense.
Monterrey’s coach, Domènec Torrent, employed a 4-5-1 formation with Luis Cárdenas guarding the net; Gerardo Arteaga, Alonso Aceves, Stefan Medina, and Fidel Ambriz in defense; a midfield composed of Oliver Torres, Sergio Canales, Erick Aguirre, Jorge Rodríguez, and Germán Berterame; with Anthony Martial leading the attack.
On the other side, Toluca’s manager, Antonio Mohamed, also chose a 4-5-1 setup. Hugo González stood between the posts; the defensive line included Diego Barbosa, Bruno Méndez, Everardo López, and Mauricio Isais; Fernando Arce, Pavel Pérez, Helio Nunes, Santiago Simón, and Nicolás Castro formed the midfield, while Oswaldo Virgen was tasked with scoring up front.
The match was officiated by referee Luis Santander Aguirre.
Looking ahead, CF Monterrey will travel to face Necaxa in their next fixture, while Toluca FC will host Santos Laguna. Currently, the home team finds itself in 15th place without any points, whereas the visitors occupy 5th place with three points earned.
Substitutions for CF Monterrey
59’ 2T – Gerardo Arteaga out for Luis Reyes, Erick Aguirre out for Roberto De La Rosa, Anthony Martial out for Ricardo Chávez.
70’ 2T – Fidel Ambriz out for Iker Fimbres.
81’ 2T – Oliver Torres out for Cristian Reyes.
Substitutions for Toluca FC
66’ 2T – Oswaldo Virgen out for Jorge Díaz.
73’ 2T – Pavel Pérez out for Andrés Pereira.
82’ 2T – Helio Nunes out for Jesús Angulo, Nicolás Castro out for Alek Álvarez.
Yellow Cards for Toluca FC:
23’ 1T Helio Nunes (Unsporting conduct), 24’ 1T Hugo González (Unsporting conduct), 38’ 1T Fernando Arce (Unsporting conduct), 33’ 2T Andrés Pereira (Unsporting conduct), and 40’ 2T Diego Barbosa (Repeated fouls).