TOLUCA, Mexico — Thanks to second-half goals from Helinho and Everardo Lopez, Toluca triumphed over LAFC with a score of 4-0 on Wednesday, earning a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup final against Tigres UANL.
Helinho opened the scoring with a penalty in the 49th minute, followed by del Villar who extended the lead in the 58th minute.
Portuguese forward Joao Paulo Dias “Paulinho” added two more goals during stoppage time for the Red Devils, who won the semifinal series 5-2 on aggregate.
This matchup marks the first all-Mexican final in the continental tournament since 2021, when Monterrey defeated Club América.
Regardless of the outcome on May 30, a Mexican team will lift the championship trophy for the fourth consecutive year. The last MLS team to claim the title was the Seattle Sounders in 2022.
Toluca is aiming for its third title in the tournament and its first since 2003 when they defeated Morelia in an all-Mexican final.
Toluca’s victory came despite missing two Mexico national team players, Alexis Vega and Jesús Gallardo, who joined the national squad for World Cup preparations.
LAFC was looking for its third final appearance in just four competitions, having reached the Champions Cup Final in 2020 and 2023 as well.
The game concluded with LAFC down to ten men after Ryan Porteous was sent off in the 88th minute.