Only a few months after eliminating LAFC from the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, the two sides met again—this time in the Leagues Cup. But unlike their previous meeting, LAFC found a way to have the final say.
A stoppage-time goal from Eddie Segura lifted the Black & Gold to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Toluca, giving LAFC three crucial points in Phase One of the tournament. For Toluca, however, much of the night ran through Helinho.
The Brazilian winger immediately became one of Toluca’s most dangerous attacking options. Operating primarily down the right side, Helinho consistently looked to take defenders one-on-one, cut into space and create opportunities around LAFC’s penalty area. His biggest opportunity of the first half came in the 33rd minute, when he unleashed a powerful right-footed effort that forced Hugo Lloris into a diving save.
It was a glimpse of what has made Helinho such an important piece of Toluca’s attack.
Toluca ultimately outshot LAFC 15-9 and put four efforts on target compared to LAFC’s three, but the Mexican side couldn't turn its pressure into a goal. LAFC had chances of its own, with Mathieu Choinière hitting the post from distance in the 38th minute before Denis Bouanga was denied by Hugo González shortly before halftime.
For much of the night, there was little separating the two sides.
As Helinho continued to cause problems, LAFC made an adjustment. Eddie Segura entered the match in the 58th minute and was deployed on the left side of LAFC’s defense, putting him directly in Helinho’s path. From there, one of the match’s biggest battles began.
Segura repeatedly challenged the Brazilian, blocking a Helinho attempt inside the penalty area, forcing him away from dangerous spaces and disrupting several attacks before Toluca eventually substituted Helinho in the 80th minute.
The same player brought on to slow Toluca’s biggest attacking threat would eventually decide the entire match.
With the game appearing destined for penalties, Jacob Shaffelburg broke down the left side in stoppage time and delivered a cross into the area. Toluca cleared the initial ball, but only as far as Segura.
The defender controlled it before curling a right-footed strike beyond González and into the corner in the 90+2nd minute. After spending much of the second half stopping Helinho, Segura had suddenly become LAFC’s hero.
The victory carried a little more weight considering the recent history between the clubs.
LAFC defeated Toluca 2-1 in the opening leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal in April, only to suffer a crushing 4-0 defeat at Estadio Nemesio Díez in the return leg. Toluca advanced 5-2 on aggregate, ending LAFC’s Champions Cup run. Three months later, LAFC finally had an answer.
It wasn't a dominant performance, and Toluca created enough chances to leave Los Angeles believing the result could have gone differently. But tournament soccer can often come down to one moment, and Segura provided it.
For Helinho, the final score may overshadow what was another display of the danger he can bring to Toluca. His pace, willingness to attack defenders and ability to create something from the right wing gave LAFC problems throughout his 80 minutes on the field.
But on a night where Helinho looked capable of creating Toluca’s winning moment, it was the man tasked with stopping him who ultimately created LAFC’s.
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