Toluca prevail against Oaxaca in Copa MX
With matchday one of the much anticipated Copa MX tournament upon us, Mexican top-flight side Deportivo Toluca F.C. saw itself heading toward a collision course with Ascenso MX club Alebrijes de Oaxaca to start off the action in Group 4. Los Diablos Rojos, only able to get a disappointing point from their first two games in La Liga MX, were determined to get their season going in the right direction with a much-needed win to boost morale. As for Oaxaca, optimism was at a high as the club looked to start off with a win to build momentum for the upcoming Ascenso MX campaign.
The match did not start so well for the visiting side, as Oaxaca conceded an early own goal in the 9th minute. Juan Aguayo was the culprit as the defender was unable to clear a routine cross from Toluca midfielder, Kevin Castañeda. Aguayo looked to send the ball out of bounds for a corner but instead mistimed his kick hitting the ball with his shin causing the ball to rocket past Oaxaca keeper José Canales.
Toluca appeared to have overmatched Oaxaca as throughout the first half all of the significant opportunities were created by Los Diablos Rojos. Forward Juan Gamboa came closest to doubling the lead for the home team as he drove at the Oaxaca defense and unleashed a dangerous strike that flew over the goal. A half-chance fell to Los Alebrijes but that closed an uneventful first half performance so far from Oaxaca.
The second half started on a lively note, with Los Alebrijes nearly leveling the score with a deadly long-range snipe from striker Jesús González Díaz driving the ball toward the corner of the net. The referee controversially awarded Toluca a goal kick, but the venomous strike looked to have been saved by Toluca keeper Luis Garcia tipping the ball out of play.
With Oaxaca looking dangerous in the second half, Toluca knew a second goal to secure their lead was a must in order to come out of this match with a win. Come the 69th minute, they were inches away from doing just that and doubling their advantage. Federico Mancuello nearly scored with a header from point-blank range in front of goal with the assist of an on-target cross from Pedro Canelo. The Oaxaca keeper was helpless, but surprisingly Mancuello missed.
As the game was coming to a close, Los Alebrijes were strongly pushing for an equalizer to escape the match with a point. In the 93rd minute, Oaxaca sent a dangerous cross into the box from Arturo Ledesma. The ball was not dealt with on the part of Toluca. Suddenly Juan Aguayo, who was responsible for the own goal to start off the match, was presented the chance to amend his disastrous mistake and become the hero for Los Alebrijes. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be as the chance to equalize on the last kick of the game was lost with Aguayo firing the shot over the goal.
Toluca ended up with all three points, starting their Copa MX campaign on the right foot and hoping to build momentum for their upcoming Liga MX match against newly-promoted side Juarez F.C. As for Oaxaca, they look to bounce back from this disappointing loss as they face los Leones Negros in their first match in the Ascenso MX.
