Mexico wonderkid plots his revenge
After heavy defeats on his previous visits to Toluca with Tijuana, teenage sensation Gilberto Mora is out to flip the script.
All eyes will be on Gilberto Mora this Wednesday as Club Tijuana squares off against Toluca, the current Liga MX champions and frontrunners for the Apertura 2025 title. Mora, who turned heads with his standout performances at the U-20 World Cup, is set to face the reigning champs for just the second time in his young career - this time against a side riding an eight-game winning streak.
Hellish Toluca visits
Mora’s first encounter with Toluca’s fiery home ground - aptly nicknamed “El Infierno” - came during Matchday 7 of last year’s Apertura. He didn’t start but was subbed in around the 60th minute, with Toluca already ahead thanks to a Marcel Ruiz brace. Then a relative unknown in Mexican soccer, Mora struggled to make an impact, and the Xolos ultimately fell 4-0.
Fast forward to the opening match of the Clausura this past January, and Mora once again descended into Toluca’s inferno. The script was eerily familiar: he entered in the 60th minute, the team trailing 2-0 after an Alexis Vega double, and the final score was another 4-0 defeat. But this time, the narrative feels different.
“This kid is dazzling”
Toluca head coach Antonio Mohamed has taken notice. Speaking to TUDN recently, “El Turco” praised Mora’s talent and maturity: “We have to treat him like any other player. If he’s called up to the senior national team, it doesn’t matter if he’s 17 or 35 - he’s there to compete for a spot. We’ve seen it happen in Argentina, where young players break through and earn their place. This kid is dazzling, and he’s earned it.”
After lifting the Gold Cup with Mexico’s senior squad and delivering standout performances at the U-20 World Cup - where he played four years below the age limit - Mora now faces a new set of challenges in Liga MX. These tests could be exactly what he needs to continue his emergence as one of the most exciting prospects Mexican soccer has seen in years.
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