LA Galaxy v Toluca
Toluca clinch 2025 Campeones Cup in dramatic win over LA Galaxy
Toluca defender Federico Pereira scored at 93 minutes in stoppage time and the Liga MX club came back twice from deficits to beat MLS club LA Galaxy on Wednesday and clinch the 2025 Campeones Cup.
Diego Fagundez opened the scoring for the MLS club with a penalty kick in the 36th minute, but Nicolás Castro equalized in the 53rd minute. Gabriel Pec appeared to give the MLS champions the lead with a goal in the 84th minute, before the Toluca Red Devils staged a dramatic comeback with goals from Franco Romero in the 88th minute and Pereira in the third minute of stoppage time.
The Campeones Cup is played between the reigning champions of Liga MX and the MLS.
Toluca earned their third trophy in the past four months, following the win of the Liga MX Clausura title and the Supercopa MX victory. Toluca won their first Campeones Cup and this marked the fourth overall Campeones Cup for a Liga MX club as Tigres UANL have won it twice and Club América once.
This Campeones Cup triumph wasn't without its share of drama, however.
A foul in the penalty area led to the penalty kick that Uruguay international Fagundez converted. Shortly afterward, Argentine coach Antonio Mohamed of the Galaxy was sent off for protesting the referee's decision.
Castro rescued Toluca with a powerful shot from outside the box. Refreshed, Toluca looked to take the lead, but a goal by Portugal forward Paulinho was disallowed after a VAR review determined it was offside.
After a series of rebounds and lapses in the penalty area, Brazil U23 winger Pec put the Galaxy ahead 2-1.
And when it seemed there was no time left for another Toluca comeback, the Red Devils managed to equalize and then win the match, with a shot from Argentine defender Franco Romero and a volley from Pereira inside the penalty area.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros