Last year in the Leagues Cup round of 32, Toluca FC deployed an offensive juggernaut against Sporting Kansas City, as los diablos rojos blitzed SKC 4-1. This season, Toluca’s firepower appears to not have subsided, as they meet Sporting in the Group West 4 finale at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. With both sides having already punched their ticket to the round of 32, this match will determine not only bracket positioning, but also bragging rights for winning the group.
Toluca’s offensive prowess was as explosive as the lightning show that surrounded SeatGeek Stadium in Chicagoland last week as they dismantled Chicago Fire 3-1.
They ended up generating an abundance of scoring chances but could not convert them all. “That is where we need to take the next step.” Coach Renato Paiva said after the victory. “We need to become killers and convert those opportunities. We cannot leave that many chances without finishing because that can cost us moving forward.” Paiva concluded.
One player who made the most of his chances was Toluca’s Marcel Ruiz. The 23-year-old Mexican midfielder scored a goal in each half in the win over Chicago and earned Man of the Match honors.
Toluca will be without their big summer signing, however. Paiva announced that Toluca’s big summer signing, Portuguese striker Paulinho, will not be available for the match.
Sporting Kansas City has had a week of rest and will have no limitations for the showdown against Toluca. “Every single player is available for the first time all year. Pretty amazing.” SKC Coach Peter Vermes declared in the pre match press availability. Vermes also realized there is more to Toluca than their offense. “We have to be very mindful of them in the attack. They are also a very strong defensive team. We have to find our chances and when we do, we have to put them away because I don’t think we are going to get a lot against them.” Vermes added.
After falling behind early against Chicago in their first group match, SKC found their chances and converted a couple of them to complete the comeback with a 2-1 win. The catalyst was Man of the Match Stephen Afrifa, who softened the Fire defense with both his runs and shots. Afrifa’s assist to Willy Agada’s diving header proved to be the match winner and has been one of the goals of the tournament so far.
The winner of the match will stay on the “western” half of the bracket and play the second place from Group West 8 (Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, or Atlas). The loser will travel to Columbus to face the Crew, who earned a first-round bye with their 2023 MLS Cup title.
