Toluca 3-1 Tigres: summary, score, goals, highlights, Liga MX Clausura 2023 playoff

Tigres advance

Club America, Rayados and now Tigres stake their place in the Liga MX Clausura 2023 semi-final as we await the fourth team ahead of the derby between Chivas and Atlas.

Commiserations to Toluca who offered a brave display and had the wind taken from their salis from the 72nd minute Tigres goal after going 3-0 ahead. 

That's it..... Tigres advance after a dramatic Liga MX quarter-final clash at La Bombonera.

Tears in the eyes of the Toluca fans but it's the handful of fans in yellow who celebrate. 

Toluca were so close but made a great contest of it.

Last chance saloon now for Toluca.

Once again a rushed pass goes out of play and Tigres look like advancing and will need to wait for the conclusion of the Chivas v Atlas game to decide their semi-final rival.

Tigres happy to clear the ball as far away from their goal as they can.

Toluca are out of ideas though and seem to have run out of steam too after their early efforts.

We've hit the 90 minute mark and we'll have 7 minutes more for Toluca to try and get that all important goal that would secure a place in the semifinals.

Gonzalez fires from distance but gets under the ball and that effort epitomises the desperation that Toluca are experiencing. 

The Tigres goal has sucked the life out of La Bombonera with the fans falling silent too.

Card for Toluca's Araujo for simulation.

Toluca have run out of battery and ideas.

Last five and it seems that Toluca have run out of ideas.

Tigres happy just to run the clock down.

Sanvezzo to take the free.

The Brazilian fire the ball into the wall and the move breaks down.

Luchnovsky carded for handball.

Ten left in Toluca.

Have the home side got any more in the tank?

Toluca go close as sub Sanvezzo sees his effort deflected wide.

Corner for the home side but the ball breaks down the other end and with Toluca committed, Tigres almost bag a second as Lopez fires over.

Less than 15 minutes to go and Toluca now desperately need another goal.

Aggregate score: Toluca 4-5 Tigres

There was a hint of offside but no, the goal stands.

Tigres now heading to the semi-final as things stand and a hush descends over the stadium.

VAR looking at something....

No end to the drama here in Toluca 

Meneses carded for time wasting according to the ref.

Angulo carded as he clips Gonzalez.

Tigres pressing now as Gignac finds space but heads wide at the back post.

A goal for the visitors would be enough for them to advance to the semi-final assuming Toluca fail to strike again.

Lopez and Carioca on

Fulgencio and Pizarro making way

Tigres subs

Problems for Toluca as No. 6 Nilo comes on for two goal hero Lopez who is stretchered off.

Tigres need to switch things around as they seem void of any creativity.

Now, what does Ambriz do now? Sit deep and try and keep Tigres at bay or look for another goal that would as good as cement the tie?

The goal came just when it seemed that Tigres had found their way back into the contest as Cordova tested Volpi.

Still a long, long way to go at the Estadio Nemesio Diez.

Remember, Toluca need to win by three goals...

It can be 3-0, 4-1, 5-2.....

Route one football...

Volpi goal kick, flicked on by Carlos Gonzalez and tucked away by Lopez.

It's like a game of chess now as does Ambriz go full on for the third goal or sit a little deeper and keep Tigres away from Volpi's goal?

So, as things stand, Toluca need another goal but need to ensure that Tigres are kept at bay.

Any win by three goals is good enough for the Red Devils to progress with no away goals and the overall winner being decided by the final places in the regular season. 

Toluca finished in 4th place with Tigres in 7th.

Cesar Ramos sounds his whistle and the second half is off and running.

Club America and Rayados have already advanced to the semi-final and now await the winners of tonight's Toluca-Tigres clash and the victor of the Guadalajara derby as Atlas visit Chivas.

Two goals from three shots on target is a result of the efficiency in front of the target we're seeing tonight from Toluca.

Tigres yet to muster a shot on target and the away side struggling to amend their original game plan.

The whistle sounds and what a 45 minutes we have coming up.

They've created few chances but they have been effective and Toluca are just one goal away from a place in the Clausura 2023 semi-final as the lead 2-0.

Lainez now carded for dangerous play.

First Toluca card of the night goes to Mosquera after a cynical foul.

Toluca start to believe !

Incredible, Toluca are just one goal away from a place in the Clausura 2023 semi-final.... assuming they keep Tigres at bay too !

Game very much on here in Toluca.

8 minutes of added time!

Final minute of the half, but anticipate we'll have at least 5 minutes of added time for the various stoppages.

Play still held up as Reyes and Guzman get medical attention from the Tigres medics.

A mix-up between the Tigres defence and keeper almost gifts Toluca with a fine chance and the veteran Argentine stopper seems to have sustained an injury.

Guzman clashed with his own player (Reyes) and the 37-year-old has a massive lump on his forehead and that looks like it will need stitching. 

Pizarro now carded for complaining.

Gonzalez heads and Guzman grabs the ball with just one hand. 

Better from Toluca now.

The goal if anything has fired Tigres into life as Toluca seem to take a step back now as we have less than 10' left in the first half.

Reyes goes close for Tigres as the former Leganes man nods over the bar.

Past the half an hour mark and Toluca are now just two goals away from a place in the semi-final. Imperative now that they keep Gignac and co.away from the home goal too.

Fulgencio carded as he kicks the ball away in protest. The Tigres player is the first to recieve a card today.

Game on in Toluca as the home side scoe with their first shot on target.

Toluca 1-0 Tigres

Toluca 1-0 Tigres

A sublime opener for Toluca

Still no shots on target for Toluca as the atmosphere gets a little more tense.

Toluca do need this early goal but as things stand there is no way past the Tigres defence.

Cordova gets clipped by Toluca's Meneses ... still no cards and the Toluca No. 16 will need to watch his step.

Toluca look for a spot kick as Araujo is slightly clipped.

Correct call from Mr. Ramos as Carlos Gonzalez drills the ball over the bar.

Toluca continue to dominate.

Quarter of an hour gone in Toluca and despite their intensity and dominance of the ball, the home side have yet to carve out a clear cut chance.

Tigres do look well drilled in defence.

Toluca enjoying all the possession as the look to their right hand side to unlock the Tigres defence. 

The home side are not giving Tigres an inch with a high pressing game. 

Toluca will need to be careful at the back as we see Lainez feed Cordova who is free in the Toluca half but childishly pushes a man in red.

Still no way through for Toluca on the Tigres goal.

Guzman still yet to be called upon as the home side probe looking for that desperately needed early goal.

Things calm down after the initial tension and both sides look to secure sustained spells of possession. 

Interesting to see Diego Lainez in action tonight. So much expectation was deposited in the young player back in his native Mexico after lackluster spells with Betis and Braga.

Plenty of tension in the opening minute as the Toluca fans appeal for every divided ball. 

The ref Mr. Ramos is certainly going to have his hands full tonight.

All set in Toluca 

There are a smattering of yellow shirts present tonight but red is the prevailent colour. 

All set in Toluca....

We'll have a minutes silence for legendary Mexican keeper Antonio Carbajal who passed away earlier this week.

Sinaloa native Cesar Arturo Ramos is tonight's match official. 

All set... let's have a quick reminder of the teams...

"In hell, no-one survives" is the message being shown on a diabolic tifo from the Toluca hardcore.

An amazing atmosphere in the ground as red smoke wafts across the pitch. 

The teams and match officials take to the pitch.

Toluca in all red, Tigres in their all yellow. 

Having said that, 'La Bombonera' as its known does look excellent tonight with a riot of red across the stands as the fans do their bit to play their role as player No. 12.

We'll say it again.... Nacho Ambriz's men need that early goal. 

It looks to be a little short of a full house at the Estadio Nemesio Diez with plenty of open space in the top tier of the 30,000 capacity stadium.

Tigres XI

Nahuel, Aquino, Igor, Reyes, Angulo, Pizarro, Vigon, Fulgencio, Lainez, Cordova & Gignac start for UANL tonight

Toluca team news

Ignacio Ambriz has named his side for the Liga MX 2023 Clausura quarter final (second leg) with Chilean Claudio Baeza captaining the team.

No strangers to Liga MX titles

Both Toluca and Tigres are among Mexico's most celebrated clubs with Toluca having recorded 10 Liga MX title wins to that of 7 for UANL. 

Having said that, it has been well over 10 years since the last title glory for the Red Devils (2010) with Tigres last lifting the trophy in 2019 (Clausura).

Stats on Toluca's side

In the 61 meetings between Toluca and Tigres, the Red Devils have secured 29 wins, lost 16 and 16 games also drawn.

The home side have bagged 89 goals against the 75 for the side from Nuevo Leon.

Toluca boss on task at hand

The task is 'difficult but not impossible' claimed Toluca boss Ignacio Ambriz in the press conference ahead of the second leg. 

"There's one game left; 90, 95 minutes that we have to play with a lot of intelligence and stay calm. We'll battle and give all we have on Sunday"

Tigres dressing room is ready

The side from Nuevo Leon will wear their iconic yellow kit tonight in Toluca as we have less than an hour to go until kick-off.

Tonight's game for Tigres is all about papering over what has been a disappointing season as the UANL side finished out the top four places and suffered a cruel Concacaf Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of Club Leon who now face LAFC in the final with the winner sealing a place in December's FIFA Club World Cup.

An early goal seems to be the only potential path to glory for the home side. A scenario awaits not too dissimilar to last year's Apertura 2022 final when the Red Devils were hammered by Pachuca 5-1 in the first leg.

A packed Nemesio Diez Stadium played its role in adding the noise levels and despite times when it looked like Toluca may get the goals that made a contest of the second leg, clinical finishing at key times saw Los Tuzos get the job done.

Toluca believe

"With our head held high and show that at home we can turn things round together.

YES OR YES with this team"

When both sides met in the regular season, Toluca did manages to put three goals past the university side but shipped two as part if a 3-2 win. 

Toluca did finish the regular season in fourth place so any aggregate level scoreline would see the men from Toluca de Lerdo advance.

Tigres hold a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg game played at El Volcan midweek and Toluca know that they need to overcome the side from Nuevo Leon by three clear goals. 

Hello and welcome to our live Liga MX coverage as Toluca and Tigres look for a place in the Clausura 2023 semifinals after Club America and Rayodos secured 2 of the four available berths.