Toluca overcame a first leg loss and going down to 10 players to get a 2-1 victory over Monterrey hat gave them the ticket to the Semifinals. Toluca looked in big trouble after going down a player early in the fist half but they surprised many by being the better team and getting a great win in a lively and exciting match. Toluca will now await for their next opponent, who they will also hold home field advantage over, while Monterrey will have to concentrate on their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The first half started with Toluca surprising by coming out with Helinho from the start. Monterrey still didn’t have injured Sergio Ramos. A cross into the area was badly deflected by Toluca’s goalkeeper, Luis Garcia but luckily for him, it was able to be cleared by Toluca’s defense. A bad clearance almost turned into a goal but Monterrey’s goalkeeper, Esteban Andrada was able to clear the ball before Paulinho could get to it, although with some difficulty. After a harsh foul from behind on Gerardo Arteaga, Helinho got red carded in a shocking play. Helinho came into the match with a lackluster performances in the Clausura 2025 and leaving his team with 10 players might end his career in Toluca, should they lose. After a great move by Alexis Vega, he got a pass that went past Andrada but incredibly Paulinho would hit the post with his left footed shot when he had a wide open net. After another run, Alexis Vega got past two defenders and got off a right footed shot that went past Andrada to score and give Toluca the 1-0 lead they needed. During the goal celebration, there was a scuffle between benches and it ended with defender Antonio Briseño (who didn’t start), getting red carded and leaving Toluca with on less option for the match. Monterrey subbed out Fidel Ambriz for Roberto de la Rosa. Marcel Ruiz would win the ball and get off right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. After getting the ball and getting to the area, Vega got off a right footed shot that was saved by Andrada. The halftime whistle blew as Toluca surprised by taking the lead and being the better team even when down a player.

The 2nd half started with Monterrey subbing out Ricardo Chavez for Jesus Corona. From outside the area, Roberto de la Rosa would get off a shot from outside the area that would deflect off Facundo Pereira and got past Garcia to score and tie the match at 1-1. A shot from German Berterame would be deflected just wide as Monterrey had come up swinging in the 2nd half. Toluca subbed out Hector Herrera and Jesus Ricardo Angulo for Franco Romero and Juan Pablo Dominguez. Off a counter, Vega got off a shot from outside the area that went wide. A cross in the area found Corona but his shot went right to Garcia. Off a corner kick, Toluca surprised Monterrey by taking it early and the ball would be headed into the path of Paulinho, who headed the ball past Andrada to score and place the score at 2-1 and once again Toluca was going thru with that score. Toluca was going thru with that score. Toluca subbed out Paulinho for Bruno Mendez as it looked like they were going to go defensive and hold on to the lead. A cross into the area was headed wide by De la Rosa. Monterrey subbed out Stefan Medina, Iker Fimbres and Jorge Rodriguez for Luis Reyes, Lucas Ocampos and Oliver Torres. A great throw in found Corona in the area but he lost the ball after getting past Garcia. A cross into the area was just held on by Garcia before Berterame could have a close range chance. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Ocampos. After stealing the ball, Jesus Gallardo got into the area and got off a good shot that was saved by Andrada. Toluca subbed out Alexis Vega for Isaias Violante. A cross into the area was headed wide by Reyes. Another cross into the area was failed to be cleared but Victor Guzman would head it wide from close range. It would be the last chance and Toluca would hold on to qualify to the Semifinals even when being down to 10 players for most of the match.

Toluca overcame a lot to give a great performance and go thru to the next round. After a lackluster loss in the first leg against Rayados, they went down a player and things looked grim for them. Yet, led by Alexis Vega, Toluca gave a great performance and was the better team and got a deserved victory that gets them to the next round. This type of win is one that seems to give a team a huge boost in their path for a title and Toluca will be favorites in the next round, as they looked to be in good form after their not great game in Monterrey. On the other hand, Monterrey has a huge failure in the 2025 Clausura. The team that went to the final last season, has one of the best squads on paper and yet could only go thru to the Liguilla thru the Play in and now were eliminated by a team that was down to 10 players for most of the match. It looks like Coach Martin Demichelis could have coached his final game with Rayados as they now face a very tough tournament in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.