Queretaro looks strong in win over Toluca
Toluca and Queretaro met today in a battle of teams that missed on classifying to last tournament’s Liguilla. Toluca just missed the cut by finishing ninth in the league table during the Clausura 2019. Los Gallos Blancos will be fighting relegation during the tournament but with today’s commanding win, they look more like a team that will compete for the LigaMX title than a team fighting off being sent to the Liga de Ascenso.
The matchup at the Nemesio Diez began with both teams creating chances early to open up the score. Querétaro’s Ayron Del Valle had the clearest chance at goal by creating space after a great turn getting by a Toluca defender and taking a right-footed strike that was sent away by Toluca’s Goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera. Talavera continued to prove why he’s one of Mexico’s best keepers minutes later by denying a left-footed strike in the box by Jesus Escoboza.
Queretaro looked like the most dangerous side early. Toluca was unable to maintain possession in the middle of the field and this resulted in Querétaro countering quickly and almost converting in a couple of attempts. Los Chorizeros had one of their best chances at goal around the 30th-minute mark with a great give-and-go play between Alexis Canelo and Felipe Pardo that resulted in Queretaro’s keeper Gil Alcala denying the attempt in the six-yard box. Both teams played back and forth trading shots and chances during the first period of play which concluded scoreless at the half.
The second half continued with a lot of back and forth play between the teams and with no clear chances or build-up play. Toluca looked lost once it passed the ball over its own half, with the midfielders and defense unwilling or unable to move up to assist their teammates further up the field. This all changed at the 65th minute for Queretaro with Fabian Castillo’s goal from outside the box. Castillo took on two players on the left side of the Toluca’s half, cut inside and hit a marvelous shot that went past Talavera’s outstretched arms and entered the goal’s upper right corner.
The goal seemed to frustrate Toluca’s players as Rodrigo Salinas challenged Queretaro’s Castillo with a reckless slide that after VAR review resulted in a red card. The red card tipped the momentum in Los Gallos Blancos’ favor as minutes later Queretaro struck again with another goal, this time from Alonso Escoboza on a great assist from Ayron Del Valle. The game concluded without much action as La Volpe decided to fall back and prevent any more damage for the rest of the game.
Ricardo La Volpe’s side will have a lot of work ahead of them to improve today’s display on the field. It seemed at times that Toluca needed a commanding presence in the midfield that controlled the tempo and pushed the ball forward. Toluca will travel to the Estadio Azteca next week to visit Cruz Azul in a game that will prove to be another tough test for Los Chorizeros.
Queretaro will travel back home to play a mid-week friendly against Real Betis on July 24th. The game will feature Mexican internationals Andres Guardado and Diego Lainez back on home soil. Their LigaMX schedule picks back up on July 27th as they travel north to face off against Xolos de Tijuana in the Estadio Caliente. Queretaro will look to continue their great play against a Xolos side that will be playing their third game in eight days.
