SOCCER: CONCACAF Champions Cup - Paulinho, Toluca demolish Galaxy

Paulinho scored twice as Toluca FC defeated LA Galaxy 3-0 in the second leg, sealing a 7-2 aggregate win to advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Toluca will face Los Angeles FC in the next round.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA / Reuters

April 16, 2026

Toluca defender Jesús Gallardo (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half against LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, USA, on April 15, 2026.

William Navarro / Reuters

Paulinho, building on his hat trick in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series, scored twice in the second leg on Wednesday to lead Toluca FC to a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy in Carson, California.

Toluca advanced 7-2 on aggregate and secured a place in the semifinals against LAFC.

Holding a 4-2 advantage from the opening leg in Mexico last week, Toluca extended its lead in the 10th minute when Jesus Gallardo struck a 20-yard left-footed shot past Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 58th minute after Helinho delivered a pass to an unmarked Paulinho inside the box. Paulinho calmly finished with a left-footed shot into the far post.

He added his second goal of the night with a composed chip over Marcinkowski after breaking through on a counterattack and entering the penalty area alone.

The final quarterfinal tie will be completed later Wednesday when the Seattle Sounders FC host Tigres UANL, with Tigres holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg. -Field Level Media/Reuters