⏪ Paulinho lifts Toluca over LA Galaxy; Tigres dominate sour Seattle

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⏪ Paulinho lifts Toluca over LA Galaxy; Tigres dominate sour Seattle

Thu, Apr 9, 2026 ·

2 min read

Poaching Paulinho lands hat-trick over LA Galaxy

Scorers:Castro (12'), Paulinho (43', 73', 85'); Pec (66'), Reus (77')

MLS giant LA Galaxy have it all to do after a 4-2 Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final first-leg defeat at Mexican powerhouse Toluca.

A first goal on the night inside the opening 15 minutes through Nicolás Castro got Diablos Rojos off to a bright start, followed up by the first of three strikes on the night for Paulinho just before the break, doubling the advantage for the home side.

Greg Vanney's out would roar back in the second stanza, however, with Gabriel Pec cutting the deficit, only for Paulinho to complete his brace in the 73rd minute.

German icon Marco Reus would temporarily give the Galaxy hope when he slotted home in the 77th minute, but Vanney's men were unable to keep Toluca at bay, with Paulinho completing his three-goal performance five minutes from the full-time whistle.

With that, the Galaxy face an uphill battle when they return to Dignity Health Sports Park next Wednesday in the aftermath of a tough MLS away day against Austin.

Sounders can't stand the heat at El Volcán

Scorers:Herrera (51'), Ragen (Own Goal - 75')

Liga MX outfit Tigres placed one foot into the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-final after a dominant 2-0 win over MLS side Seattle Sounders.

Los Auriazules failed to grab a deserved opener in the third minute of stoppage time when Ángel Correa couldn't convert from the spot, but would open the scoring six minutes after the restart, when a clever backheel pass from Fernando Gorriarán released Jonathan Herrera in the box to break the deadlock at Estadio Universitario.

The result would be put to bed in the 75th minute with a close-range header from substitute Joaquim, who rose highest to meet Juan Brunetta 's near-post corner before watching his effort deflect off Jackson Ragen and past a sprawling Stefan Frei .

Tigres are now firmly in control of the two-legged affair ahead of the return fixture at Lumin Field a week from tonight.