Soccer is weird. One minute you’re cruising with a two-goal lead at home, and the next, you’re watching a Portuguese striker named Paulinho single-handedly dismantle your defense. Honestly, if you missed the Deportivo Toluca F.C. vs Columbus Crew match in the Leagues Cup, you missed one of the most chaotic displays of North American soccer in recent memory.
Lower.com Field was vibrating. The Crew, fresh off their status as reigning Leagues Cup champs, looked every bit the powerhouse early on. But Toluca—the "Diablos Rojos"—don't just quit. They have this gritty, never-say-die Liga MX identity that makes them a nightmare for MLS teams who think a game is over at the 60-minute mark.
The Meltdown in Columbus
Let’s be real: Columbus should have won this game. They had it.
Diego Rossi tucked away a penalty in the 11th minute like it was a training session. Then, right after the half, Max Arfsten did some dancing in the box and made it 2-0. At that point, the home crowd was already thinking about who they’d play in the next round. But soccer has a funny way of punishing arrogance—or maybe just rewarding persistence.
Antonio "El Turco" Mohamed, Toluca's gaffer, has built a squad that thrives on pressure. When you have Alexis Vega and Paulinho on the pitch, you're never actually out of it. Paulinho’s first goal in the 71st minute was a bit of a gift after a Schulte fumble, but his second? A towering header in the 80th minute that basically sucked the air out of Ohio.
Why the 2-2 Draw Was Just the Beginning
The Leagues Cup has this specific rule that people still find kinda jarring: no draws. If it’s level after 90, we go straight to the spot.
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But wait. There was a moment that almost rendered the shootout unnecessary. In the 88th minute, Federico Pereira committed a foul in the box. Penalty for the Crew. Rossi steps up. This is it. The chance to bury the comeback.
Luis Manuel García had other ideas.
The Toluca keeper guessed right, dived, and smothered the shot. It was a massive psychological blow. You could see it on the Crew players' faces—they knew the momentum had completely flipped. By the time the actual shootout started, Toluca looked loose, while Columbus looked like they were overthinking every step.
Deportivo Toluca F.C. vs Columbus Crew: By the Numbers
If you look at the box score, it tells a story of two different games.
Toluca actually controlled 55% of the ball. They outshot the Crew 21 to 8. That’s a staggering gap for a game played in Columbus. While the Crew were clinical early on, Toluca was relentless. They forced 8 saves out of Patrick Schulte.
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The disciplinary side was just as messy. Five yellow cards for Toluca, two for Columbus. It was chippy. It was loud. It was exactly what happens when Liga MX royalty meets an MLS heavyweight.
The Shootout Breakdown
When it finally came down to the penalties, it wasn't even close.
- Alexis Vega (TOL): Scored.
- Diego Rossi (CLB): Saved (again).
- Luan Garcia (TOL): Scored.
- Amar Sejdic (CLB): Saved.
- Jesus Gallardo (TOL): Scored.
- Taha Habroune (CLB): Scored.
- Helinho (TOL): Scored to win it.
Toluca walked away with the 4-2 shootout win and the extra point in the standings. For Columbus, it was a bitter pill. Losing at home after leading 2-0 is the kind of result that haunts a locker room for weeks.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s this narrative that MLS has completely closed the gap on Liga MX. While the gap is definitely smaller, matches like Deportivo Toluca F.C. vs Columbus Crew prove that the Mexican sides still have a tactical maturity that’s hard to beat.
Toluca didn't panic. Even when they were down 2-0, they kept their shape. They used the width of the pitch. They waited for the Crew’s high-press to tire out, and then they pounced.
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Also, can we talk about Paulinho? People forget he’s a seasoned pro who has played at the highest levels in Europe. Putting a guy like that against an MLS backline in the final 20 minutes is almost unfair. He knows exactly where the gaps are. He doesn't need three chances; he only needs one half-chance to change the scoreboard.
Practical Insights for the Next Meeting
If these two meet again—and they likely will in the CONCACAF Champions Cup or future Leagues Cup iterations—the tactical battle will be even tighter.
Wilfried Nancy is a brilliant coach, but he got out-maneuvered in the substitutions. The Crew looked gassed. Toluca, on the other hand, brought on Helinho and Barbosa, who injected immediate pace.
For the Crew to flip the script, they have to figure out how to manage the game when they're ahead. You can't just sit back against a team like Toluca. They will find a way through.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Replay of the 70th to 80th minute: Pay attention to Toluca's wing-backs. They pushed incredibly high, forcing the Crew's wingers to defend deep, which killed the Crew's counter-attacking threat.
- Keep an eye on the transfer wire: There’s a lot of noise about Max Arfsten attracting European interest. If the Crew lose him, they lose a massive part of their creative spark.
- Track the "Paulinho Effect": See how other MLS teams defend him. So far, the "physicality" of MLS hasn't bothered him one bit.
- Follow the Goalkeeper Battle: Luis Manuel García proved he’s a big-game player. Watch how he handles the pressure in the upcoming Liga MX playoffs; it’ll tell you if this was a fluke or if he’s truly entered his prime.
This rivalry is just getting started. It's not just about a trophy; it's about which league's philosophy actually works when the lights are brightest. Right now, the Diablos Rojos have the upper hand.