Toluca claims Liga MX ‘Double’ under Turco Mohamed, ties Chivas in titles

Toluca continues to carve their place in Liga MX history under Antonio “Turco” Mohamed. Playing in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Nemesio Díez Riega Stadium, Los Diablos secured the 2025 Apertura title, defeating Tigres UANL 9–8 on penalties after a dramatic two-legged final.

The championship completes a rare Mexican double for Toluca, who had already lifted the Clausura earlier in the year. With the victory, the club equals Chivas as the second-most successful champion of the modern Liga MX era, both now holding 12 league titles, trailing only Club América (16).

Toluca also mirrors a recent feat achieved by André Jardine’s América, winning both tournaments in the same calendar year.

A Final Defined by Momentum Shifts

After winning the first leg 1–0 in Nuevo León, Tigres entered the return leg needing only a draw to reclaim the title for the first time in two years. The visitors started aggressively, and in the 14th minute, veteran striker André-Pierre Gignac struck from a free kick just outside the box. The ball deflected off Fernando Gorriarán and found the net, giving Tigres an early advantage.

Toluca responded before halftime. In the 40th minute, Brazilian winger Helinho—formerly of São Paulo and RB Bragantino—scored a spectacular long-range effort, reigniting the home crowd and keeping the aggregate score in Tigres’ favor at 2–1.

The momentum fully swung after the break. In the 52nd minute, tournament top scorer Paulinho completed the comeback with a decisive finish, leveling the aggregate score and sending the final into extra time.

Despite sustained pressure from both sides, neither team found a winner in extra time, forcing the championship to be decided from the penalty spot.

Penalty Drama at Nemesio Díez

In a marathon shootout that saw 24 penalties taken, Toluca prevailed 9–8, with Alexis “Diablito” Vega converting the decisive kick.

For Toluca, Frederico Pereira, Juan Domínguez, and Luis García missed. Tigres faltered through Nicolás Ibáñez, Joaquín, Nahuel Guzmán, and Ángel Correa, sealing a dramatic end to one of the most intense finals in recent Liga MX history.

Toluca Joins Liga MX’s Elite

With their 12th national title, Toluca now sit level with Chivas in the modern-era championship table, reinforcing their status as one of Mexico’s historic powers.

Modern Liga MX Titles (Top Clubs):

• Club América — 16
• Guadalajara (Chivas) — 12
• Toluca — 12
• Cruz Azul — 9
• León / Tigres — 8

Under Turco Mohamed, a well-known coach in Brazil, Toluca have found consistency while reasserting themselves at the top of Mexican football.