In a thrilling return leg of the Apertura 2025 Liga MX final, Toluca mounted a comeback against Tigres at Estadio Nemesio Diez to tie the aggregate score at 2-2. The Red Devils scored twice in the first half through Helinho and Paulinho, responding to the felines' initial goal. The match, which will decide the champion, remains open with potential extra time.
The return leg of the Apertura 2025 Liga MX final pitted Toluca against Tigres at Estadio Nemesio Diez on Sunday, December 14, at 19:00 central Mexico time. Tigres arrived with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, courtesy of Ángel Correa's goal in the 46th minute. However, Antonio Mohamed's side, playing at home, responded with intensity.
The match started with alternating dominance. In the 5th minute, Nicolás Castro shot from outside the area, but the ball went wide. At the 11th, Federico Pereira received a yellow for fouling Juan Brunetta, giving Tigres a free kick. Two minutes later, at the 14th, André-Pierre Gignac took the free kick, deflected by Fernando Gorriarán for 0-1 (aggregate 2-0). Tigres' goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán saved a left-footed shot from Jesús Angulo in the 20th and suffered a temporary injury.
Toluca pressed: in the 21st, they claimed a penalty for a foul on Marcel Ruiz, denied by referee César Ramos. At the 40th, Helinho scored a stunning goal from outside the box, rebounding off the post before going in, tying 1-1 (aggregate 1-2). Five minutes were added to the first half, with a yellow to Santiago Simón for fouling Gignac in the 45+2. At halftime, it was 1-1.
In the second half, Javier Aquino replaced Marco Farfán at the 45th. Toluca claimed a penalty for a foul on Angulo in the 49th, but it was ignored. At the 54th, Helinho assisted Paulinho for 2-1 (aggregate 2-2). Guzmán rejected a shot from Ruiz in that minute. The match, broadcast on Canal 5, Azteca 7, TUDN, FOX, ViX Premium, and FOX One, drew a vibrant atmosphere with massive Toluca support and enhanced security measures.
Lineups featured Luis García in goal for Toluca and Guzmán for Tigres. This tie leaves the series open, with Tigres seeking their ninth title and Toluca a back-to-back championship.
