Toluca 1-5 Pachuca: summary, score, goals, highlights, Liga MX Apertura 2022 final

Toluca 1-5 Pachuca

Toluca only have themselves to blame for allowing Pachuca rack up a 0-4 first-half lead with poor defending and individual errors their undoing and only the most optimistic Toluca fan would dream of turning around the 1-5 first leg scoreline.

A late goal from the home side offered a glimmer of hope for the local fans who were a credit to their side in the face of adversity and how differently things may have looked had Leo Fernandez managed to convert his 95th minute penalty,

Pachuca were excellent and Uruguayan coach Almada looks destined to end his losing run in Liga MX finals after a wonderful first leg display from his side.

Tension as Leo Fernandez steps up.... the No. 10 sees his kick saved by Ustari and the final whistle sounds....

one senses it's not to be for Toluca this year.

Toluca win a penalty.... Ortiz points to the spot. Good call as Sanchez fouls Alvarez.

Big appeal from Toluca for a handball but Violante had committed a foul before the incident. 

We'll have 4 minutes of added time.

Decent effort from Pachuca as the ball falls to a striker in red but the headed effort is straight at the Tuzos keeper as Fernandez is carded as he fouls Luna.

Four minutes of normal time remain. Another goal for Toluca would at least make Sunday's game ...interesting...

Less than ten remain at La Bombonera and the fans still do their bit to fire their side up ... a great performance from the Toluca supporters and sadly for them not matched by the players in red on the pitch.

Great work from Alvarez as he skips past three Pachuca player and slips Sierra in who finishes with a fine shot into the corner.

Jordan Sierra offers a glimmer of hope for El Diablo !

Gooooool. Toluca pull one back as Pachuca switch off

(Some) Toluca fans throw in the towel

With approximately 15' left, many Toluca fans have seen enough and leave the stadium.

Having said that, many home fans still show their support as Alvarez gives the fans some hope and forces Ustari to save well.

Change for Pachuca: Ibañez makes way for Hernandez

Toluca switches: Meneses for Sierra and Guzman makes way for Violante

Twenty minutes remain in Toluca and time running out for the home side to get a goal or two that may just offer a glimmer of hope for the Red Devils ahead if the second leg. 

Baeza carded as he fouls Chavez

Pachuca are handling the game wonderfully and a sixth goal for the visitors does look more likely with Toluca suffering a mental block.

Football s so much about belief and momentum.... Los Tuzos have this in abundance at the moment and it shows as Toluca look desperate.

Pachuca switch as Guzman leaves with Luna his replacement.

Tons of space opening up now as Toluca chase the game and Pachuca look to strike on the break. 

Toluca change: Alvarez on for Gonzalez

Changes:

De la Fuente off / Hurtado on and Ibarra off with Lopez his replacement (Tuzos changes)

Toluca gifted an incredible chance to pull one back but the ball is headed wide with the goal gaping.

The Pachuca twitter manager is busy tonight !

and it's five .... Pachuca went close striking the bar and from the next passage of play the ball falls to Ibañez and the Argentine striker drills the ball into the roof of the Toluca net.

Toluca's shots on goal stat from the first 45 minutes is revealing: 0

Things could have been so different had Sanvezzo found the target in the first half.

The fans seem to have rediscovered their voice at the break with the noise levels back as Toluca start brightly. A goal or two, essential now for Nacho Ambriz's side. 

On: Navarro and Angulo 

Off: Sanvezzo and Ortega

changes for Toluca at the break

Pachuca start the second 45'

All set in Toluca as we have a few changes for the home side.

Toluca need an early goal (or two) to stand any chance of keeping the tie alive. There are no away goals counting double with a tied game after two legs leading to a penalty shoot-out. 

The home side need to get the fans back onside and the best way for that is to find the net.

Toluca 0-4 Pachuca

Toluca pre-game tifo

This fine tifo from the Toluca fans ahead of the game was about as good as things got for the 'Diablos Rojos' tonight.

Toluca look on the bright side

There's still 135 minutes of football states the Toluca twitter account at half-time and despite being correct, football is all about momentum and that momentum is 100% with the visitors from Hidalgo.

The whistle sounds and a welcome respite for Toluca with Nacho Ambriz's men being given a masterclass in efficiency with Pachuca scoring four times on their five efforts on target. 

Things could have been so different had Sanvezzo found the target with the game at 0-2 but as it stands, it's Los Tuzos who are in total control.

We'll have 2 minutes of added time.

Now, the Toluca fans seem to have run out of patience as they are witnessing a major humiliation with their men four goals down at the break.

Isais getting on the scoresheet now as he leaps unmarked and heads home from a corner.

...and another one for Pachuca....0-4

Toluca with a great chance to pull one back but have to settle for a corner....

Second goal of the night for Ibarra as two errors from the Toluca defenders gift the man from Ecuador who breaks through and slots the ball into the corner. 
This is turning out to be a nightmare for Toluca.

Goooooooool. Pachuca make it 0-3

'Si se pueda Toluca' chant the home fans (Yes we can Toluca) as the supporters maintain their high level of support.

Toluca have been much better in the past 10-15 minutes but really need a goal to really pull themselves back in the contest.

Mosquera is fouled on the edge of he box. 

Is VAR going to take a look ? No, the ref awards the free and the home side work the ball short and Ruiz blazes the ball over.

We're at the 30 minute mark of the first half and Toluca are now very much on top in questions of possession but the Red Devils have yet to really test the Pachuca keeper. The visitors do, however hold the all important 0-2 lead on the night thanks to the Ibarra and Cabral goals.

Toluca almost pull one back as Sanvezzo screws the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. Good counter from the home side but the Brazilian really has to do better.

Toluca seem to have weathered the storm and now (two goals behind) start to regain the possession that they enjoyed in the opening minutes of the game. 

A wonderful start for Guillermo Almada's side with the Uruguayan coach suffering two consecutive Liga MX final defeats.

Despite the adverse scoreline, the home fans maintain their support with plenty of noise being generated by the almost 30,000 fans packed into the Estadio Nemesio Diez.

What a start and not the opening many anticipated. Toluca totally in control in the opening minutes and with the opening goal the home side were rocked with the ball hitting the post and then surprised with the Cabral strike.

What a start for Los Tuzos and the small 100 or so away fans in raptures

Cabral with a rasping free kick which tricks everyone and keeper Volpi is wrong sighted as the ball nestles in the Toluca net

Mosquera now carded as he clips a Pachuca player

Pachuca take the lead

Toluca are panicking as Pachuca now hit the post as the ball spins and almost catches Volpi out

What a counter and an incredible strike from Ibarra. 

It's very much one-way traffic at the moment with Pachuca pressed back as Toluca dominate the early minutes of the game.

De la Fuente fouls again and the Spaniard will need to be careful as he was close to being carded again. 

Dangerous resulting free but the ball is too fast on the slick surface and goes wide for a goal kick.

De la Fuente carded for a trip with the Spaniard tripping Guzman. The Toluca man is still being attended to and the game is held up momentarily. 

I anticipate a close contest tonight and sense goals will be at a premium. Many talk about Pachuca being a strong team offensively but as we saw last Sunday night Los Tuzos are solid in defence too.  

Toluca set to get the game underway as the drizzle continues to fall 

All set at the Estadio Nemesio Diez .. Marco Ortiz prepares the captains and we're all set...

Toluca in their classic all red tonight with Pachuca in their dark and light blue shirts and blue shorts.

National anthem time ahead of the game....

The players and referees are in the tunnel with a fantastic atmosphere being generated by the thousands of red clad fans gathered at 'La Bombonera' for the final with tickets for the game selling out in record time.

A reminder of tonight's teams for those just tuning in.... Kick-off in the Apertura 2022 final (first leg) just minutes away

Toluca fans in fine voice

With just minutes to go to kick-off, the home fans are in fine voice with chants of 'Diablos, diablos' (devils, devils) ringing out at the Estadio Nemesio Diez.

Apertura 2022: weather

It's a rather grim evening in Toluca with a constant drizzle and a current temperature of 14C/57F. Rain is also anticipated during the bulk of the final.

Toluca XI named

Nacho Ambriz confirms his eleven men to face Pachuca as Volpi, Huerta, Ortega, Mosquera, Guzmán, Fernández, Ruiz, Meneses, Baeza, Sanvezzo & González all start.

Brazilian veteran Sanvezzo a player worth keeping an eye out tonight with the 34-year-old guaranteed to be a headache for the Tuzos defence.

Apertura final match ball

These are the special commemorative Apertura 2022 final match-balls produced by official Liga MX ball supplier Voit. 

Pachuca XI confirmed

Guillermo Almada has confirmed his team to face Toluca in the first leg and following earlier doubts, 'El Serganto' Cabral is fit to play in central defence despite being subbed late on in Sunday's game away to Monterrey as a precautionary measure.

Ibañez will lead the line for Los Tuzos this evening in Toluca.

Toluca-Pachuca: past five meetings

August 2022: Apertura: Toluca 1-4 Pachuca

March 2022: Clausura: Toluca 0-3 Pachuca

September 2021: Apertura: Pachuca 1-2 Toluca

March 2021: Clausura: Toluca 0-2 Pachuca

Sept. 2020: Apertura: Pachuca 0-0 Toluca

Close up with Ibañez

Tonight's game affords us the chance to take a closer look at Pachuca striker Nicolas Ibáñez with the Argentine top scorer in the 2022 Apertura regular season for Los Tuzos.

Pachuca see off Monterrey rivals on path to the final

After finishing in fourth place in the Apertura 2022 regular season, Pachuca have had to overcome the Monterrey giants in Tigres UANL and ‘Los Rayados’ on their path to the final and will point to their solid defense that were able to keep Monterrey at bay last Sunday and make good their first leg 5-2 advantage.

Pachuca are striving for more glory having already bagged six top flight titles in the Mexican game. Those successes being: Invierno 1999, Invierno 2001, Apertura 2003, Clausura 2006, Clausura 2007, Clausura 2016.

Toluca's path to the final

Ignacio Ambriz’s side sent shock-waves through the world of Mexican football last weekend as his side eliminated high flying and highly fancied Club America with a 3-2 aggregate win that silenced the Estadio Azteca.

Toluca are on a solid run since their away defeat to Tigres in early September and having finished sixth in the regular season were forced to participate in the repechaje/wild-card round where they saw off Juarez with a solid 3-0 win. A wild 6-4 semi-final aggregate win over Santos Laguna set up the semi-final clash against ‘Las Aguilas’.

Sunday's Apertura final return leg sold out

Pachuca have confirmed that all match tickets for Sunday's final are sold out with the Estadio Hidalgo boasting a 30,000 capacity.

The away team dressing room at the Nemesio Diez

The Pachuca shirts hang in the visiting team locker room with Los Tuzos set to sport their grey and blue striped shirts this evening for the first leg of the 2022 Apertura final.

Toluca-Pachuca: Possible XI's

Still a while before we get the official line-up's for tonight's clash but these are the expected teams:

Toluca: Tiago Volpi, Valber Huerta, Jorge Torres Nilo, Haret Ortega, Andrés Mosquera, Claudio Baeza, Fernando Navarro, Marcel Ruiz, Leo Fernández, Jean Meneses & Carlos González.

Pachuca: Óscar Ustari, Kevin Álvarez, Gustavo Cabral, Óscar Murillo, Mauricio Isais, Luis Chávez, Erick Sánchez, Israel Luna, Víctor Guzmán, Romario Ibarra & Nicolás Ibáñez.

Almada on the possibility of losing a third final: “I’m not going to commit suicide”

For Guillermo Almada, the Apertura 2022 final will be his third final in the last four Liga MX tournaments. The Uruguayan coach missed out on lifting the title in his two previous opportunities but he insists that what happened in the past will have no bearing on Pachuca’s chances of being crown champions this weekend.

“There is a path that brought us to where we are - it was not easy, we had to do something positive to get there, but I am not going to commit suicide if we don’t win. I will remain convinced of my idea. You win, you lose or you draw - nothing is absolute in soccer”, he assured.

Óscar Murillo: 'Neither team is favourite to win the Apertura final'

Pachuca defender Óscar Murillo is expecting the 2022 final to be another tight affair. Speaking in an interview to TUDN, he said: “We know that neither team is favourite. The team that shows better levels of concentration and goes for it more is going to win. We hope that’ll be us and that we play well. We’ll be going out to win on Thursday, which we always do, no matter whether we’re playing at home or away. We always go out to win and we hope to put in a good performance.”

Toluca fans gather outside the Estadio Nemesio Diez

A swathe of red clad 'Red Devils' fans are amassed outside 'La Bombonera' as kick-off to the Apertura 2022 final draws ever closer.

Liga MX’s two most frequent ‘Liguilla’ winners

It’s the final that not many of us, if we’re being honest, expected to see. But the clash brings together the two clubs who have amassed the most titles since the short tournament system was implemented in Liga MX in 1996. Toluca have won on seven occasions but are currently on a 12-year drought, with their last victory coming all the way back in the Bicentenario tournament in 2010. Pachuca lie just behind them with six trophies, the last of which saw them emerge victorious in the 2016 Clausura.

Pachuca's call to arms

'Today Pachuca FC plays for the dream of the club and its people'

Liga MX

Who is Marco Ortiz, the referee for the Toluca vs Pachuca Liga MX final?

Third time lucky for Almada?

Pachuca head coach Guillermo Almada goes into his third consecutive Liga MX final and will be hoping it’s a case of ‘third time lucky’ after his Santos Laguna side fell to Atlas in the 2021 Apertura. The Uruguayan then moved to the Pachuca bench and once again Atlas were their undoing in the Clausura 2022. The 56-year-old will, however be inspired by his sides performance at the Estadio Nemesio Diez during the regular season where his men outmuscled Toluca running out 1-4 winners in their meeting in August.

Apertura final, first-leg: sold out

All tickets have been sold with the Estadio Nemesio Diez hosting a capacity tonight of just short of 30,000 fans. There will be a number of visiting Tuzos fans too at the final with the distance between both cities just over 150km.

After four months of competition, the 2022 Liga MX Apertura season reaches its climax with Toluca and Pachuca going head-to-head in the final with the ‘Diablos Rojos’ looking for their eleventh title and ‘Los Tuzos’ from Pachuca looking to claim their seventh league glory.

Pachuca ended the regular season in fourth place with Toluca sixth.

The action gets underway in Toluca at at 8:06 pm (local time), which equates to US: 9:06 pm (ET) and 6:06 pm US (PT).

Tonight's first leg gets underway at Toluca's 30,000 capacity Estadio Nemesio Diez ground, also known affectionately amongst the fans as La Bombonera given its similarity in shape to the famous Boca Juniors stadium in Buenos Aires.

Hello and a warm welcome to our coverage of the Liga MX Apertura 2022 final (first-leg) as Toluca face Pachuca.