Boca vs Toluca - the Official match thread

Do not be fooled by the imposters.

Kickoff in 15 minutes. Stay tuned for updates as events warrant.

Toluca have been struggling in the Mexican championship and currently sit second from bottom in their group with just one win in nine.

They are managed by River Plate legend Américo "El Tolo" Gallego. Gallego won two Argentine league championships as manager of River and one more title more recently with Independiente in 2000, and also served as Argentina number two under Daniel Passarella.

Boca, meanwhile, are without playmaker Juan Román Riquelme and hattrick hero Martín Palermo.

They also won't be helped by the altitude, as Toluca is the highest city in Mexico at 8500 feet above sea level.

Good start. The fans are literally right on top of the touchlines, and they're having to wait while the Boca keeper clears his goal of streamers.

What a goal! As good a volley as you'll see. I thought the cross was overhit.

Against the run of play, but it's a flowing, open match. Could be bagfuls scored.

Fantastic goal for Toluca...

Toluca flash another cross in from the left. Boca looking all over the place defensively.

Hm, police have moved in behind the Boca goal, and things are hitting the pitch.

Marioni just dived.

It's all kicking off!

The Toluca player faked it, but Diaz did make a little contact there.

Edit: And off he goes. Silly really, he was literally 5 feet from the linesman. Not much of a headbutt at all, and the Toluca player goaded him into it (you could see him offer up his face, and Diaz bit). But Diaz has to know better.

£#%&! me. How many stupid sendings off is that this season for Boca?

How long did he stay down? That was almost Wayne Bridge-esque

Originally Posted by Serenity Now

How long did he stay down? That was almost Wayne Bridge-esque

He was definitely acting. He just waited for Diaz to lean into him, then went down like he was shot.

Narrow miss there for Toluca.

And how bad is Russo's leather coat?

Toluca get in behind for the second time in a couple of minutes. That last chance was golden, they really should be 2-0 up.

Haha that is a brutal coat.

Not sure about that offside decision, what did you think? Looked close to even, if the mowed stripes are straight. Fantastic header.

Boca saved by a last ditch tackle by Ibarra after Toluca get behind the Boca defence again.

Toluca put the ball in the net again... Offside. Would have been a cracking goal.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Haha that is a brutal coat.

Not sure about that offside decision, what did you think? Looked close to even, if the mowed stripes are straight. Fantastic header.

Looked level to me, though he might have just been leaning off.

Toluca are carving Boca open at will. Looks like it's just a matter of time till they score again.

So why no Riquelme or Palermo? Just resting them?

Originally Posted by Grimson

So why no Riquelme or Palermo? Just resting them?

Yeah, it's not an easy trip. Especially when your bus from the airport gets lost and takes the wrong route

Russo seems to have it in for Chapita. He really should have been starting ahead of Marioni.

Originally Posted by Serenity Now

Yeah, it's not an easy trip. Especially when your bus from the airport gets lost and takes the wrong route

Russo seems to have it in for Chapita. He really should have been starting ahead of Marioni.

They really got lost?

I'm also surprised Marioni continues to get a run. It's funny though, this game is starting to follow the ten-man pattern. Toluca went for the kill, didn't get it, and appear to be ever so slightly taking their foot off the pedal. I think if they don't get a second goal, Boca could nick an equaliser.

Halftime.

Originally Posted by Grimson

They really got lost?

I'm also surprised Marioni continues to get a run. It's funny though, this game is starting to follow the ten-man pattern. Toluca went for the kill, didn't get it, and appear to be ever so slightly taking their foot off the pedal. I think if they don't get a second goal, Boca could nick an equaliser.

Halftime.

Apparently so

Toluca were definitely looking less dangerous towards the end of the half. The problem is that Boca haven't really looked like scoring at all.