Toluca used a fiery atmosphere to their advantage on Wednesday evening, beating Los Angeles FC 4-0 to book a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Scorers: Helinho 49′ (P), LĂłpez 58′, Paulinho 90+2′, 90+4′. Porteous: Porteous 88′
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With red fireworks and an inferno-themed tifo on display, this semi-final second leg was always going to be a tense contest.
It could have been a lightning-quick start to this match, too, as LAFC missed a massive chance only eight minutes in. Unfortunately for them, Malik Tillman blasted his effort over the bar with the goal only a few feet away.
Toluca, as expected, ramped up the pressure following that effort. But none of their four on-target shots turned things level. Instead, it was heartache for Marcel Ruiz and Nicolás Castro, who both hit the woodwork.
Coming out after the break, it was the palpable energy from the first half that carried over for the hosts, and it eventually paid off. Helinho was taken down in the box and subsequently converted from the penalty spot for a 1-0 lead and 2-2 on aggregate.
The Estadio Nemesio DĂez then erupted, and did once more immediately after, as the Liga MX side turned things all the way around. This time, it was centre-back Everardo LĂłpez who put his name on the scoresheet with a thunderous effort after LAFC lost the ball trying to play out from the back.
Despite Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga on the pitch for most of the match, the visitors failed to register more than one shot on target. In the first leg, they managed to win with only two on target, but tonight, their luck had run out.
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To make matters worse, the dying moments had LAFC down to 10 men after Ryan Porteous was shown a direct red card.
In the blink of an eye, Paulinho impressively turned the match 3-0 with a finish at the back post, then 4-0 with a striking effort, as the Major League Soccer side bowed out embarrassed.
Toluca will now face Tigres in the final.
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