Toluca Defeats Mazatlรกn 3-1 Despite Hรฉctor HerreraSโ Red Card
TOLUCA,โฃ MEXICO – Toluca secured their fifth consecutive โฃliga MX victory with a 3-1 win over Mazatlรกn FC, despite playing with ten men for 45 โminutes following the expulsion of Hรฉctor Herrera. The match, played at estadio Nemesio Diez, saw โฃgoalsโฃ from Herrera, Bruno Mรฉndez, and Paulinho.
Hรฉctorโ Herrera opened the scoringโข in theโ 24th minute with a long-distance shot, putting Toluca ahead 1-0. โคMazatlรกn’sโค hopes were โฃdealt a blowโข in addedโ time of the โฃfirst half when Herrera received a redโ card for aโ foul on Jordan Sierra after โขa VAR review.
Playing a โคman down, Toluca extended their lead inโ the 49th minute. A cornerโ kick resulted in a goal by โBruno Mรฉndez, who scored from a scramble in the box, making it 2-0.
Mazatlรกn’s Bryanโ Colula attempted to respond โคwith a shot on โขgoal, butโ it was saved by Toluca goalkeeper Hugo โคGonzรกlez.
Toluca added a third goal inโ the 87th minute through a penalty kickโ converted by Paulinho, after aโฃ foulโฃ onโข Marcel Ruiz. Paulinho’s goal puts him in contention for the tournament’sโฃ scoringโ title.
Mazatlรกnโค managed a consolation goal in theโ final momentsโ with a free kick from Nicolรกs Benedetti that deflected off the barrier and into the net, finalizing the score atโ 3-1.
Toluca’s win marks their fifth straight league triumph since theirโ defeat against Cruz Azul on matchday โค6. Manager Antonio โฃMohamed opted to restโข players like Paulinho and Fede Pereira, who started on theโค bench.
