CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
Toluca humiliated by Costa Rican side and crash out of CONCACAF Champions Cup
Despite coming into the game with a 1-2 advantage, the Red Devils crashed out on away goals with angry fans at La Bombonera furious with the players.
Just four days after celebrating the club’s 107th anniversary, Liga MX giants CD Toluca were cruising to a 2-0 lead at home against Costa Rican side Herediano at the interval. Following a 1-2 first leg win in Heredia for the Mexican side, local fans were in a festive mood as they started to dream about their next round tie with Surinamese outfit Robin Hood FC. What could possibly go wrong ...
The dream of advancing in the most important continental domestic tournament turned into a nightmare as Herediano managed to find the net three times in the second half and the Liga MX side were eliminated on the away goals rule which is still employed by CONCACAF as a decider should two legged games remain tied.
Dream turns sour
In the 56th minute Andy Rojas finished a counterattack with a ferocious strike to offer a sliver of hope for the visitors.
Just five minutes later, the Costa Ricans stunned the home fans as Francisco Rodríguez finished a move to offer a real sense of belief to the visitors with the aggregate score at 4-3.
Toluca were shell shocked as tension from the stands was transmitted to the field and the side in red started to panic as the visitors clearly grew in confidence. With just seven minutes left of normal time, the unthinkable just 45 minutes earlier happened as Joshua Canales headed home to silence the Nemesio Díez Stadium.
A disaster for head coach Renato Paiva who has just taken stewardship at Toluca and as the Red Devils exited the pitch, there were ugly scenes as furious fans made their feelings clear hurling a series of objects at the dejected Toluca side who now only have the 2024 Clausura to concentrate on.