Toluca advances to the quarterfinals after eliminating the Houston Dynamo on penalties

In a match full of drama and tension, Toluca qualified for the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup by defeating Houston Dynamo 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The match, which ended 2-2 in regulation time, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The score was opened in the 37th minute with an own goal by Griffin Dorsey, which put Toluca ahead 1-0. However, the lead was short-lived, as three minutes later, Ezequiel Ponce equalized the score for Houston Dynamo after receiving an assist from Amine Bassi.

In the second half, Houston Dynamo took the lead in the 61st minute with a goal by Micael, who finished off a corner kick assisted by Franco Escobar. The goal was validated by the VAR, and Houston took a 2-1 lead.

Toluca did not give up and continued to search for the equaliser, which came in stoppage time. Édgar López connected with a header after a corner kick executed by Jesús Gallardo, taking the match to the penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout was as close as the match. Both teams scored their first shots, but the difference came when Houston Dynamo’s Lawrence Ennali missed his penalty, which was saved by the Toluca goalkeeper. Jesús Gallardo, Paulinho, and Édgar López kept their cool and scored their respective shots, securing Toluca’s victory with a score of 5-4 on penalties.

With this victory, Toluca advances to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, eliminating a Houston Dynamo that fought until the end in a match that could have gone either way.