CARSON, Calif. The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup began on Wednesday with Deportivo Toluca FC defeating LA Galaxy 3–0 in the second leg of their quarterfinals series, 5–2 on aggregate, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, USA. Paulinho’s brace
Toluca scored in the 10th minute with a long-range shot from Jesús Gallardo to the upper left corner. Franco Romero provided an assist on the play.Paulinho extended the visitors’ advantage in the 58th minute. Nicolás Castro freed up Helinho on the right, and he produced a threaded pass for Paulinho to slot the ball away from the left side of the box.Paulinho added another for Toluca in the 64th minute, this time with a chip over the goalkeeper to capitalize on Castro’s through play. Paulinho’s brace
The goal increased the Portuguese forward’s tally to six, tying him for the top scorer award.Toluca FC has advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals for the sixth time in its history. The defending Liga MX champion will meet Los Angeles FC in the semi-finals.They are the eighth different Liga MX team to reach the final four in the competition’s last four editions.
Paulinho
Toluca has scored multiple goals in six consecutive Concacaf Champions Cup matches dating back to the 2024 edition, equaling the longest such streak in the competition’s modern era (since 2008) and matching Cruz Azul’s run of six consecutive games with two or more goals from August to October 2009.
Toluca’s Jesús Gallardo scored the first goal of the Concacaf Champions Cup season, extending his total to three. He is the only defender to have scored multiple goals during the tournament.This was Toluca’s third time scoring three goals away from home in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The first came in 2009 against D.C. United (3-1) and the second in 2013 against Caledonia AIA of Trinidad & Tobago (5-1).
This is the second time Toluca has won a Concacaf Champions Cup match despite lacking possession since at least the 2013-14 season. Los Diablos Rojos averaged 43% possession against the LA Galaxy tonight, compared to 47.1% versus Alajuelense in 2014.Paulinho scored five goals in two quarterfinal legs against LA Galaxy, becoming only the second player since the 2016-17 season to score at least five goals in a single knockout round of the Concacaf Champions Cup, following Gabriel Pec of LA Galaxy in the Round of 16 against Mount Pleasant earlier this year.
Toluca’s Team Performance Impresses
While Paulinho stole the show, the team performance was crucial for the result. The midfield controlled possession for long spells, creating opportunities with crisp passing and measured build-up. On the defensive front, Toluca remained compact throughout the game, limiting clear-cut chances and adjusting well when the opposition tried to gain momentum. The balance between attack and defense allowed the team to maintain control for most of the match. Their disciplined display was a reflection of the preparation and tactical planning that has defined their Champions Cup campaign.
Strong Defense Supports the Attack
Goals aren’t the only ingredient for a great knockout performance, and Toluca’s defense was equally outstanding. The backline was tight, winning important duels in the air and preventing threatening counterattacks.
The keeper also produced some key saves to keep the lead intact when the pressure got to him. Such efforts in defence meant Paulinho’s attacking exploits were enough to see Toluca through.
To win both ends of the field is to show why Toluca is one of the tournament’s most complete teams.
Looking Ahead
Toluca will use this win as a boost heading into the battles ahead. The coaching staff will continue to work on defensive discipline and creating scoring opportunities through rapid attacking play.
Paulinha leads the way and the team is playing with confidence, Toluca enters the semifinals with a lot of faith. Every game left is harder but this type of performance shows they have the quality and determination to get to the Champions Cup final.
Paulinho’s two goals will go down as a highlight of Toluca’s excellent tournament run, and could become the catalyst that propels the club to European triumph.
Sarah Williams is a sports news reporter covering all major American sports including NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. With 4 years of experience in sports journalism, Sarah specializes in breaking news, trending stories, and exclusive sports updates. Her fast-paced reporting style keeps sports fans informed and engaged. Sarah is a core member of the USA News Point editorial team.
