Pachuca stunned Toluca with an early goal during their matchup on May 3, 2026, at the Nemesio Diez stadium, securing a pivotal victory in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 quarterfinals.
Enner Valencia scored the decisive goal in the 8th minute, marking a strong start for Pachuca. Despite several attempts by Toluca to equalize, including a disallowed goal for handball, they could not find the back of the net.
Key statistics:
- Pachuca finished the regular season ranked fourth with 31 points.
- The final score was 1-0 in favor of Pachuca.
- The match kicked off at 9:15 PM ET.
Both teams entered this match after dropping their final two games of the regular season, which added pressure to perform in this knockout stage. The outcome leaves Pachuca with a slight advantage heading into the second leg, which is scheduled to take place at Estadio Hidalgo.
In response to their defeat, sources say that despite going behind early, Toluca’s players attempted to rally with support from their fans. The Diablos Rojos are expected to regroup as they prepare for the return match next Sunday.
The series will be decided at Estadio Hidalgo, where Pachuca will aim to protect their narrow lead and advance further in the tournament.
