In a thrilling first leg of the 2025 Mexican Clausura quarterfinals, Monterrey overcame Toluca 3-2 on Wednesday, despite the absence of key figures Sergio Ramos and Martín Demichelis. The match, played at Toluca’s home ground, saw both teams battle intensely for an early advantage.
Toluca’s Unlikely Lead
The game took an unexpected turn in the 16th minute when Toluca took a 1-0 lead. Jesús Gallardo made a cross from the left flank into the Monterrey box. In a twist of fate, Monterrey defender Víctor Guzmán unintentionally deflected the ball into his own net, leaving goalkeeper Esteban Andrada helpless.
From the stands, Sergio Ramos, still recovering from injury, looked on in frustration, placing his hand to his head after seeing his teammate’s error. Coach Martín Demichelis, also sidelined by a suspension, mirrored the sentiment, his arms raised in disbelief.
Monterrey Strikes Back
Despite the early setback, Monterrey remained resilient. Just before halftime, in the 44th minute, Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa equalized with a powerful left-footed shot from over 25 meters out. The ball slipped through the hands of Toluca goalkeeper Héctor Herrera, bringing the score level at 1-1. Ramos, watching from the box, cracked a smile at the equalizer.
The Turning Point
The second half brought a game-changing moment in the 50th minute. Monterrey’s Spanish forward Sergio Canales put his team ahead 2-1 with a precise low shot inside the box. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations from Demichelis, who pumped his fists in excitement from the stands.
Monterrey Seals the Win
The match continued to shift in Monterrey’s favor. In the 69th minute, Toluca defender Gallardo failed to properly pass the ball back to goalkeeper Pau López, allowing Monterrey’s Argentine forward Germán Berterame to capitalize on the mistake. Berterame swiftly intercepted the ball, evaded the goalkeeper, and netted a stunning 3-1 goal.
The Toluca bench, led by coach Antonio Mohamed, was left stunned by the error and the scoreline.
Toluca’s Late Rally
Toluca managed to pull one back in the 82nd minute. A well-executed set piece saw Brazilian forward Luan García rise above the Monterrey defense to head home, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. Despite this late goal, Toluca’s efforts to equalize in the dying moments of the match were in vain.
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
With the first leg concluded, the series is far from over. The second leg will take place on Saturday at Toluca’s Nemesio Diez Stadium. Toluca will need to secure a victory to move on to the semifinals, while Monterrey will look to defend their slim lead.
Pachuca and América Draw 0-0
In the other quarterfinal matchup, Pachuca and América played to a goalless draw at Hidalgo Stadium. Despite dominating large stretches of the match, América came closest to scoring in the 70th minute. They squandered three chances in a single attack, with Kevin Álvarez’s shot saved, Erick Sánchez’s rebound blocked, and Rodrigo Aguirre’s heel shot also stopped by a defender.
América will host Pachuca on Saturday at Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium, where Pachuca will need a win to advance to the next round.
What’s Next?
Two more quarterfinals will kick off Thursday evening. Necaxa will host Tigres at Estadio Victoria, while Cruz Azul travels to León’s Nou Camp for a crucial matchup. These games will set the stage for the rest of the tournament as the teams battle for a spot in the semifinals.
