Deportivo Toluca F.C. vs. CF Montreal

Toluca’s late-night display at Harrison offered a glimpse of artistry amid the Leagues Cup’s unforgiving format—yielding a 2–1 victory over CF Montréal that might go down as one of the tournament’s most memorable comebacks. Montréal struck first, as Efraín Morales headed home in the 20th minute, a landmark moment—the defender’s first MLS goal—but Toluca’s response was swift and stunning. Jesús Angulo restored parity just three minutes later, and Paulinho followed with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 26th minute that will surely be a candidate for goal of the tournament.


For CF Montréal, the early lead and spirited start promised a chance to move off the mat and make an impact. But Toluca’s composure under pressure and sheer efficiency turned the game on its head. Montréal’s late red card—shown to Prince Owusu after the final whistle—was a cruel punctuation to a match that might have gone differently without that moment of undisciplined frustration.


Toluca, under Antonio Mohamed, continue to prove why they’re one of Liga MX’s most resilient sides in this competition. Their unbeaten run in Phase One remains intact, and that Paulinho, now on a four-match scoring streak, continues to deliver in big moments makes them a real threat heading into the knockout stage.


Montreal, by contrast, now sit in a precarious position. Their loss puts them at two points—one win away from elimination. They’ll need to regroup fast ahead of their final Phase One fixture against Puebla if their tournament is to continue.


Ultimately, this 2–1 turnaround wasn’t just a statement—it was a warning. In Leagues Cup play, flair alone won’t win the day; composure, ruthlessness, and finishing—qualities clearly on display for Toluca—remain the currency of success.