Toluca fought back to a 1-1 draw against Cruz Azul in the Campeón de Campeones thanks to a stunning goal from Alexis Vega, but Argentine midfielder José Paradela opened the scoring with a delicate touch that left the scarlet defense stunned. The match, played in the United States, ended on a sour note for Los Diablos, who sit on 3 points after two Liga MX games -7th in the table, 3 pts, 1W-0D-1L- and remain three points behind leaders Club Tijuana.
What happened in the match?
Paradela’s goal came in the 31st minute, when Cruz Azul stole the ball in midfield and built the play through Agustín Palavecino and Charly Rodríguez. The Argentine, known for his cultured left foot, carried the ball a few meters before slotting it past the Toluca goalkeeper with precision. The strike confirmed what everyone already knew: Paradela is the brain of La Máquina.
But the Diablos weren’t done. Before halftime ended, Toluca equalized with a free-kick masterminded by Alexis Vega and Jesús Angulo. Vega, the magician from Metepec, played the ball to open the Cruz Azul wall, leaving Angulo with a clear path to fire home. It was Vega’s second goal in two games, following his strike against Chivas in Matchday 1.
Why this draw stings for Toluca
The result leaves a bitter aftertaste for Toluca, who arrived on a three-game winning streak in their last four outings (LWWW, with their latest win a 1-2 victory over Pumas on July 22). Yet the draw against Cruz Azul -a team they beat 2-1 in their last meeting- shows the Campeón de Campeones path won’t be a cakewalk.
Toluca have scored three goals and conceded two this season (+1 goal difference), but the stalemate with Cruz Azul highlights that the team still needs to tighten up at the back. The Diablos, who lost their last game 1-2 to U.N.A.M. Pumas, must string together consistent results to stay in the title race.
What’s next for Toluca?
Toluca’s next test comes against Necaxa on August 3 at the Nemesio Díez Stadium, a must-win clash to keep their title hopes alive. The scarlet side, currently 8th in the standings, need three points to close the gap on the leaders and cement their place in the top half of the table.
Meanwhile, Paradela remains Cruz Azul’s standout performer, with a goal and an assist in his first two games of the season. His left foot continues to torment opposing defenses, and Toluca will need to find a way to contain him in their next fixture.
