Note that this match starts at 8:00pm. I assume this is so it won't compete for viewers from matches in CT. Weather looks to be fine as any t-storms are predicted to pass before kick off. We all know what happened the last and only time these two met; 4-1 to Toluca in the group stage last season at DSGP. Toluca made it to this round by beating Houston 4-3 on PKs after the match was a 2-2 at full time. In group play they beat Chicago 3-1 and KFC 2-1. In Liga MX Apertura they are in fifth on 8 points but only 2 from first after four matches. Bombito didn't play in the last match and wasn't fully training today. Otherwise outside of Cabral it looks like the Rapids are healthy.
2-1 loss, goal by Abubakar. I think this is where the Rapids run ends. We won't be pushovers like last season but our lack of depth is going to bite us late when we're tired or have subbed in players who aren't up to Toluca's level. They get the winning goal in the second half and despite a valiant effort we can't take it to penalties. https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2024/08/toluca-for-second-year-in-row.html
Looking forward to watching on tv. 8p on a Tuesday is a tough ask for most people so I hope those able to go get a good showing. Agree that it is pushing the stamina of our regulars...will be a tough match
My outdoor league starts today so I’ll watch on TV. Jason’s prediction sounds good but I’ll go 3-1 loss. Love them to win but next round would be away I gather?
With Pumas' loss last night this is the last round we can host until the final. Toronto was the only team we ranked higher than in the Leagues Cup ranking table and they're out. So we're on the road against any MLS team. The only Liga MX team remaining on our side of the bracket now is Club America, who has hosting rights in San Diego through the semis. So after tonight we go to the winner of St. Louis-Club America for the quarters. The semis would be the winners of the LAFC/SJ/Seattle quadrant (Pumas was there as well). If the final (or 3rd place game) is against one of the 3 remaining Liga MX sides on that side of the bracket we would host, if its against one of the 5 MLS sides left it would be on the road.
I would expect, as stated above, that the late mid-week start and the fact that the game is not included in the season ticket packet will result a very small crowd at the Park. Will Bombito be included in the squad or, given the reports of Nice and Salzburg now entering the bidding for his services, will he be held out?
Given the report this morning that the deal with Nice is done and he's going to do his medical later this week I'm going to say he'll be held out...
Toluca fires a shot across the bow - ¡Mucho éxito @TolucaFC 😈 en el partido de octavos de final de la @LeaguesCup, esta noche ante el @ColoradoRapids!#TodosJuntos | #TolucaFC#LeaguesCup2024 | #LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/iASRdpPmri— Estadio Nemesio Diez (@EstadioToluca) August 13, 2024
Also worth noting that Toluca’s home stadium in Mexico is around 8700 feet, so altitude isn’t exactly going to be a guaranteed advantage for us either tonight. I think we’ll be competitive, but as said above I believe this is the end of the line for us
Lineups out for both teams. No graphic from Toluca yet. Slackers. Thoughts? Scale of 1 to a million, how sad are you about Bombi? pic.twitter.com/7wCYxxj3DD— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) August 14, 2024
Djordje with the Team USA look tonight .@DjoMihailovic stepping out in his @TeamUSA closing ceremony fit 🇺🇸🔥 #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/AtMDps3hq7— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) August 14, 2024
Ronan and Fernandez in for Lewis and Harris Rapids have been overrun since halftime, but Toluca can't find the back of the net
Tired defenders (and everyone) on that goal. Can't give a quality team that many chances. Let's see if we can hang on Spanish commentators made a comment about why they'd play Highway to Hell in stadium after Toluca scored...in other words asking why is stadium DJ celebrating the goal
Seriously, the heart this team has to think you've got the winner, have it agonizingly taken away, but then just bounce RIGHT back and get another winner. Amazing.