On March 8, 2025, Toluca FC delivered a stunning performance at the Estadio Nemesio Diez, defeating Necaxa 5-2.
The match, part of Jornada 11 of Liga MX's Clausura 2025, saw Alexis Vega shine brightly with a spectacular hat trick, demonstrating why he is considered one of the league's most talented players.
Coming off their previous disappointing loss against America, where they were thrashed 3-0, Toluca was eager to reaffirm their strength. With 21 points from 11 games, they were positioned fourth, just above Necaxa, who sat fifth with 18 points.
The game kicked off at 17:00 hours local time, and Toluca needed to establish dominance from the outset, especially playing at home. Both teams had faced setbacks recently—Toluca under coach Turco Mohamed and Necaxa managed by Nicolás Larcamón were both searching for redemption.
Necaxa opened the scoring early, with Diber Cambindo finding the net just 11 minutes in, stunning the home crowd. His powerful shot from outside the box placed Necaxa at 1-0. Toluca struggled to find their rhythm initially and could have fallen behind more, as José Paradela narrowly missed adding to Necaxa's lead when he hit the post shortly after.
Despite the challenging start, Toluca managed to equalize before halftime. The turning point came just before the whistle when Paulinho scored off Juan Domínguez's assist, pulling the score to 1-2.
The second half saw Toluca erupt with energy. Antonio Briseño found the goal again just after the break, heading home from close range to level the score at 2-2, and the match dramatically shifted. This goal infused Toluca with confidence, prompting relentless pressure on the Necaxa defense.
Vega then took charge, scoring his first goal of the match just 10 minutes later, displaying his speed and precision. This brought the score to 3-2.
Continuing this momentum, he added his second goal shortly thereafter, capitalizing on another strong play to extend the lead to 4-2. Necaxa struggled to respond, and Vega’s final goal at 84 minutes sealed the game with Toluca leading 5-2, marking his hat trick and showcasing his incredible talent.
Despite the scoreline, Necaxa had their moments, with José Paradela also scoring to put them momentarily up 2-0. The early two goals gave them hope, but it was Toluca’s second-half resurgence, backed by their home crowd, which ran away with the match.
Post-match, both teams reflected on the outcome; Toluca solidified their place near the top of the table, aiming for the playoffs, with Vega’s performance likely to draw interest from clubs eyeing transfers. Meanwhile, Larcamón and Necaxa would need to regroup quickly to stay competitive.
The match statistics showed Toluca dominating possession and shots on goal. Their attacking strategies, combined with Vega’s individual brilliance and Briseño's defensive prowess, created mismatches for Necaxa. Moments of brilliance capped by teamwork helped them secure the victory.
Looking forward, Toluca will face Puebla away, and Necaxa will also be visiting León, where both teams will need to bring their best to achieve positive results.
This clash not only highlights the competitive spirit of Liga MX but emphasizes individual talents capable of changing matches, with Alexis Vega undoubtedly taking home the match ball and the hearts of the fans.