Toluca wins Apertura title in dramatic 9-8 penalty shootout

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Toluca's Jesus Angulo, left, and Alexis Vega celebrate their side's second goal scored by Paulinho against Tigres during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Jugadores del Toluca celebran el gol de Paulinho, el segundo para los Diablos, durante el segundo tiempo del partido de vuelta de la Final de la Liga MX, el domingo 14 de diciembre de 2025, en Toluca, México. (AP Foto/Eduardo Verdugo) — Toluca's Jesus Angulo, left, and Alexis Vega celebrate their side's second goal scored by Paulinho against Tigres during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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8:47 PM on Sunday, December 14

The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Toluca defeated the UANL Tigres on penalty kicks 9-8 on Sunday night to win the Apertura tournament title and became the fifth team since 1996 to win back-to-back titles in the Mexican league.

Fernando Gorriaran put the visitors side ahead in the 12th minute, but Brazilian winger Helinho leveled the scoring in the 41st and Portuguese striker Paulinho put Toluca ahead in the 52nd to send the match into extra time with a 2-2 aggregate.

Former Atletico Madrid winger Ángel Correa gave the UANL Tigres a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the final.

The Red Devils joined Pumas, León, Atlas and America as teams that have repeated league titles in Mexico since 1996, when the league started playing two tournaments each year.

Toluca now has 12 league titles to tie Chivas as the second winningest team in Mexico. Both teams trail America, which has 16.

Toluca's coach Antonio Mohamed won his fifth league title in Mexico and is two short of the all-time leaders Ignacio Trelles and Ricardo Ferretti.

Alexis Vega converted Toluca’s first and 12th penalties, with the latter securing the win in a 24-kick shootout. His successful strike ended a streak of five consecutive misses — three from UANL Tigres and two from Toluca — clinching victory for the Red Devils.

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