Paulinho Just Scored a Hat Trick Across Two Games and Toluca Is Headed to the Semis While the Galaxy Are Going Home
Toluca FC absolutely dismantled the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, and it wasn't even close. Paulinho, who already had a hat trick in the first leg last week, added two more goals in the second leg to lead a 3-0 shellacking in Carson. That's seven goals in two games for Toluca. The Galaxy? They're done. Toluca advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals with a 7-2 aggregate victory and a date with Los Angeles FC waiting.
Paulinho Put on a Clinic
This guy was absolutely unstoppable. After lighting it up in Mexico last week with three goals, Paulinho came right back on Wednesday and picked up where he left off. In the 58th minute, Helinho slipped him a perfect pass and Paulinho buried a left-footed shot inside the far post with the Galaxy defense asleep. Then in the 90th, he chipped it delicately over Galaxy goalie JT Marcinkowski as he raced into the penalty area on a counterattack. Two goals. Two different ways. That's professional finishing right there.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiToluca Was Already Up Before the Second Leg Even Started
Let's be real, this series was over before Wednesday kickoff. Toluca walked out of Mexico with a 4-2 lead after the first leg, and all they had to do was not completely fall apart in Carson. Jesus Gallardo made sure that didn't happen, blasting a 20-yard left-footed shot past Marcinkowski in the 10th minute to make it 5-2 on aggregate. From there, it was just a matter of time.
Seattle's Turn Is Now
While Toluca was finishing off the Galaxy, the Sounders are facing their own nightmare matchup tonight. Seattle hosts Tigres UANL for the final quarterfinal series, but they're in a hole. Tigres walked out of the first leg with a 2-0 lead, which means the Sounders need to find a way to flip this thing on its head at home. It's not impossible, but it's going to take something special from the boys in green and blue.
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