In a match that had everything—goals, tension, and a last-gasp twist—Toluca claimed the 2025 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup with a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Liga MX side, fresh off their Campeon de Campeones triumph, denied the MLS champions a chance to add more silverware to their cabinet just months after their MLS Cup success.
The game kicked off with LA Galaxy asserting early dominance, their possession game looking sharp as they pressed Toluca back. Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute, a clinical finish that set the tone. But Toluca, resilient as ever, hit back quickly. Alexis Vega leveled things in the 25th, exploiting a defensive lapse that left Galaxy fans groaning. Indeed, the Mexican team's counterattacks started to sting, with Jean Meneses adding a second just before halftime to flip the script.
Second half brought more chaos. Dejan Joveljic pulled one back for LA Galaxy in the 58th, igniting hopes of a comeback as the crowd roared. Yet Toluca held firm, their defense absorbing pressure while waiting for openings. The decisive blow came in the 90th minute—Federico Pereira's header from a corner sealed the win, leaving the Galaxy stunned and the pitch littered with frustrated players. It was a goal that underscored Toluca's knack for thriving under duress, even if their play wasn't always pretty.
LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney called it a "heartbreaker," pointing to fatigue from a grueling season as a factor, though he praised his team's fight. Toluca's victory evens the historical ledger in this annual showdown, with each league now holding three titles since the cup's inception in 2018. However, for the Galaxy, it's another reminder of how fine the margins are in these cross-border clashes.
Moreover, the match highlighted the growing intensity between MLS and Liga MX, where every encounter feels like a statement. As both teams look ahead—Galaxy to playoffs, Toluca to their league grind—one wonders if this rivalry will only get fiercer in the years to come.