Sagging Toluca no match for Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City made short work of struggling Toluca and took a 3-0 lead in first leg.
All the issues that make Toluca the worst Liga MX representative in the Concacaf Champions League were on display Thursday night and Sporting Kansas City took advantage.
Krisztian Nemeth scored in minute 35 and Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sánchez scored second-half goals to lead the host team to a 3-0 victory in their Round of 16 CCL match vs Toluca.
The Diablos Rojos have now failed to score in 5 of their past 6 games and the way they played in Kansas City, it could be quite some time before they score again.
The MLS season does not start until next month so MLS clubs are still in the middle of training camp. Liga MX teams are preparing for Matchday 8 this weekend, so they could be expected to be in midseason form. But after watching the Sporting KC-Toluca match, one could be excused for failing to see evidence of that insight.
In short, Toluca was a shambles. Their fundamentals were weak (trapping, passing, triangulating, movement and spacing) and their performance was shaky. The midfield line frequently collapsed into the back line causing serious problems when trying to clear their zone.
Kansas City enjoyed 64% possession – and they did a wonderful job of moving the ball and working in tandem. But the possession advantage was also fueled by Toluca’s game-long inability to string passes together.
The home team simply outworked the Diablos, found weaknesses and exploited them … again and again.
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On the left flank, Man of the Match Fernandes (pictured at top, after scoring his goal) was a terror. He tormented Toluca’s right back Rodrigo Salinas with his dribbling as well as working the give-and-go with Felipe Gutiérrez. On the right side, Johnny Russell also created frequent offense for KC with his passing.
Center forward Nemeth muffed a scoring chance in minute 18 when a cross from Russell surprised him and clattered off his shins just wide of the net. A few minutes later, a KC free kick was rattled off the crossbar by Toluca’s Emanuel Gigliotti. Seconds later, left back Seth Sinovic sent a screamer just over the crossbar.
The Kansas City finally had reason to cheer in minute 35 when Fernandes beat the offside trap and chased the lead pass down inside the box. As three Toluca defenders converged, Nemeth collected the ball, stepped left, hesitated, stepped further left and rifled home from 8 meters.
Nemeth nearly scored again in minute 48, receiving a cutback pass from Fernandes, making a quick turn and shooting low only to see the ball trickle inches wide of the post.
Fernandes doubled the lead 7 minutes into the second half after initially botching a centering pass. Nemeth distracted goalie Alfredo Talavera and he left a rebound. Fernandes swooped in and roofed it from 5 meters away.
Sporting KC put the game away in minute 72 and once again Fernandes was involved in the play. Fernandes escaped to the touch line to left of goal and sent a low cross that was blocked but not cleared. Ilie Sánchez volleyed home the loose ball from 15 meters.
Toluca did manage to get 3 shots on goal, but not a single one was difficult for goalie Tim Melia.
The veteran Gigliotti was a particular disappointment. Brought in to help replace the loss of striker Alexis Vega, the Argentine has yet to score for Toluca. On Thursday, his touch betrayed him. Twice he flubbed wide-open chances, including a header from close range that he sprayed wide. Replays seemed to suggest he was offside on both chances, but failing to get the ball on net either time was embarrassing.
The result makes coach Hernán Cristante’s seat even hotter and he’ll have little time to get comfortable. Toluca visits Santos Laguna on Sunday, then the Diablos and KC meet again – in Toluca – next Thursday.
Herediano 3, Atlanta United 1
The reigning MLS champions traveled to Costa Rica and were rudely treated by their hosts.
José Guillermo Ortiz opened the scoring in minute 7 when he intercepted an ill-advised back pass and lobbed goalie Brad Guzan as he came off his line.
Herediano scored its second on a terrific possession that featured a dozen passes leading to an overlapping run by two Herediano midfielders for a two-man break in alone on Guzan. Ortiz made the lead pass, Randall Azofeifa chased it down with Oscar Granados joining him on the break. Azofeifa faked a pass to Granados then slotted home for a 2-0 lead at the 34-minute mark.
Julian Gressel got a goal back for Atlanta when his shot deflected off a Herediano defender 4 minutes before halftime.
Granados restored the 2-goal lead in minute 50 when he chased down a free kick at the back side and volleyed home into the empty net.
Herediano followed in the footsteps of Saprissa – the other Costa Rican team in the CCL – by claiming a home win in the first-leg of their Round of 16 series. Los Florenses travel to Atlanta for the return leg next Thursday.