Toluca Extends Winless Streak After 2-2 Draw Against Tijuana

Deportivo Toluca extended its winless run to five consecutive matches in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament after being held to a 2-2 draw by Club Tijuana at the Estadio Nemesio Diez. Despite taking a second-half lead, the home side failed to secure all three points in front of its supporters.

The match began with tactical caution from both sides, but Tijuana struck first in the 38th minute. Yael Padilla recovered the ball in his own half, sprinted down the field, and delivered a precise pass to Elías Manoel, who easily tapped it in to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Trailing at halftime, Toluca manager Antonio "Turco" Mohamed made tactical adjustments that immediately paid off. The introduction of Federico Viñas gave the home attack a stronger presence in the penalty box, allowing him to equalize in the 60th minute with a crossed shot following a filtered pass from Helinho.

Just five minutes later, Helinho completed the brief comeback for the Red Devils. He shook off his marker with a sharp cut and fired a shot into the far post to put Toluca ahead 2-1, sparking celebrations in the capital of the State of Mexico.

However, Tijuana refused to surrender. In the 75th minute, following a corner kick and a scramble inside the penalty area, Padilla pounced on a loose ball and struck it cleanly with his instep past goalkeeper Luis García Palomera to seal the 2-2 final score.

The draw leaves Toluca with mounting concerns as they navigate their longest slump of the season. Once a fortress that yielded dominant results under Mohamed, the Estadio Nemesio Diez saw its team squander another advantage, keeping the Red Devils from climbing higher in the general standings.

For Tijuana, the hard-fought point on the road proved crucial for their aspirations in the tournament. The visiting side, under the guidance of Sebastián "El Loco" Abreu, reached 17 points to solidify their position inside the qualification zone, relying on stellar individual performances to navigate difficult away fixtures.