Goalkeeper Hernan Cristante was the star of the evening and Toluca won at Trinidad & Tobago's San Juan Jabloteh, 1-0, in a Group B game in the CONCACAF Champions League Thursday night at Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
Paul Nava scored the 9th minute winner, bundling in the rebound after his straight-on header was saved by goalkeeper Cleon John. The goal was set-up by some neat work on the right-wing by Carlos Esquivel, who delivered an accurate cross that enabled the 18-year-old Nava to head toward the goal.
Toluca, which has three wins from four games in the Mexican Apertura, seemed content to control possession rather than expand its attack. That tactic, however, made the visitors somewhat complacent and allowed Jabloteh a series of scoring opportunities.
In the 19th minute, a well-taken attempt by Ataullah Guerra from long-range forced Cristante into an outstanding save.
Ten minutes later, Jabloteh's Noel Williams made an enterprising run into Toluca territory and found an unmarked Karlon Murray, whose shot from the right was superbly saved by Cristante.
Seven minutes into the second half, Lester Peltier should have given the home side an equalizer, but the ubiquitous 40-year-old Argentine goalkeeper was there once again to make a point-blank stop.
The game became more physical as the half wore on with Jabloteh's Travis Mulraine and Toluca's Zinha each being issued cautions by Costa Rican referee Walter Quesada.
Toluca returns to Champions League action next Wednesday, when it visits the USA's D.C. United at RFK Stadium. San Juan Jabloteh faces the unenviable task of traveling to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to face Marathon.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Teams:
Jabloteh: - 22.Cleon John, 28.Robert Primus, 5.Anton Hutchinson (Yellow 79), 6.Noel Williams, 4.Karlon Murray, 29.Joel Russell, 10.Marvin Oliver (capt) (20.Willis Plaza 72nd), 30.Lester Peltier, 21.Ataullah Guerra (7.Elijah Manners 83rd), 15.Travis Mulraine (Yellow 53), 13.Jason Marcano (32.Jerrel Britto 72nd).
Toluca: - 1.Rolando Cristante, 14.Edgar Dueñas, 3.Francisco Gamboa, 17.Jose Olvera (16.Carlos Galeana 85th), 4.Miguel Almazan, 10.Antonio Naelson Matías (Yellow 62), 8.Israel Lopez (27.Vladimír Marín 57th), 15.Antonio Rios, 11.Carlos Esquivel, 7.Nestor Calderón (21.Diego Muciño 72nd), 19.Paul Nava.
Officials:
Referee: W. Quesada.
Assistants: L. Leal (1) - M. Ramirez (2).
Fourth Official: G. Hospedales.
Toluca edge San Juan Jabloteh.
By: Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
Goalkeeper Herman Christante had a telling impact as Mexican club Deportivo Toluca walked away with a 1-0 victory in the CONCACAF Champions League Group B match against San Juan Jabloteh on Thursday night at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The veteran keeper made big stops from shots by Jabloteh's Noel Williams and Ataullah Guerra in the first half and also foiled Lester Peltier's best effort in the second half to preserve an early Raul Nava goal.
Striker Nava gave Toluca the lead in just the ninth minute, when showing a poacher's instinct to beat Jabloteh centre-back Karlon Murray to a rebound.
Jabloteh keeper Cleon John had spectacularly fended off Nava's first effort, a powerful header from a cross swung in by Carlos Esquevera on the right.
And while Jabloteh were in action, T&T's other Champions League entrants W Connection were in Honduras, where they also went down 1-0, to CD Espana via an 11th minute Henry Martinez goal.
Defending Digicel Pro League champions Jabloteh will next play on Wednesday against Marathon in Honduras, while W Connection host Guatemala's Comunicaciones from 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
On Thursday night, Toluca controlled the first 20 minutes before home team Jabloteh finally settled and began to threaten mainly through right winger Peltier and striker Jason Marcano.
It was Peltier's enterprising run around his marker which opened up Toluca for the first time. Peltier created a chance for midfielder Guerra, whose low shot produced a good save from keeper Christante in the 19th minute.
Two minutes later, Marcano picked out overlapping left-back Noel, who drove past his marker only for Christante to smother the shot after racing out of goal.
Christante was also called into action to end Marcano's mazy run into the penalty box in the 27th and then stopped Guerra scoring two minutes later.
Again, it was Noel's overlap up the left which opened up the Toluca defence, before he passed the ball across the box to find Guerra free at the back post. Guerra looked for power with his low shot, but Christante was off his line quickly again to block a bullet.
Toluca, the 2008 Mexican champions, were mostly content to keep possession. But they created some dangerous moments, mostly through Brazilian-born midfield dynamo Antonio Naelson MatÃas, also known as Zinha.
A member of Mexico's 2006 World Cup team, Zinha made his international debut in 2004 against Trinidad and Tobago and has 49 caps for Mexico.
He had keeper John caught in no man's land in the 51st when swinging in a cross, which Nava just missed at the back post, and also troubled Jabloteh throughout the second half.
Jabloteh's best chance for an equaliser came in the 52nd when Peltier worked his way into the penalty area and got off a good shot from close in, but Christante again narrowed the angle and pushed away the ball.
Jabloteh's industrious effort left them leg weary at the end and allowed the Mexicans a few half-chances, but no further goals.