Chivas dumps Toronto FC for crucial 1st-leg advantage
Toronto FC has dug itself quite the hole.
Liga MX outfit Chivas scored in the second minute and again in the 72nd to snatch a 2-1 victory on Tuesday at BMO Field against the MLS Cup holder in the CONCACAF Champions League final first leg.
Rodolfo Pizarro's opener and Alan Pulido's stunning free-kick bookended Jonathan Osorio's tournament-best fourth goal, giving the Guadalajara side a one-goal lead as it heads home for next Wednesday's decider.
Not the start @torontofc was hoping for as Chivas scores an important away goal just over one minute in. #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/Xu5owiHqBJ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 18, 2018
The host was behind the eight ball early when Pizarro delivered a massive away goal. TFC fell asleep on a throw-in deep in its end before the Mexican attacking midfielder profited from some lax defending to fire beyond a lunging Alex Bono.
Osorio leveled 17 minutes later when the local boy got on the end of Marky Delgado's pass across the face of goal, and with the scoreline even at one apiece, TFC appeared the most likely to score a second. That momentum continued after the break, as Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore threatened to unsettle Chivas' man-to-man defensive scheme.
Chivas score another away goal to take a 2-1 lead. #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/2FuMhdImL0
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 18, 2018
It wasn't to be for treble-winning TFC, as Pulido curled home a deft free-kick 18 minutes from time. Despite a late push from Greg Vanney's men that included a non-call on Michael Perez's foul on Giovinco in the penalty area, the MLS side has some work to do if it's to become the first side from the North American top flight to take home the continent's biggest footballing prize.