The Columbus Crew suffered a familiar fate Tuesday night, squandering a two-goal lead and falling to LIGA MX side Toluca 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation. It marked the second consecutive match where the Black & Gold dropped points from a winning position.

Columbus struck first in the 11th minute when Diego Rossi converted from the penalty spot after Luan Garcia tripped Daniel Gazdag inside the box. Rossi confidently slotted the ball past Toluca goalkeeper Luis Garcia to give the Crew an early 1-0 lead.

Toluca responded with urgency, generating multiple dangerous chances. Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was called into action, notably stopping a fierce strike from Federico Pereira. Four yellow cards were issued in a physical first half — two apiece for both sides — foreshadowing a tense second frame.

Coming out of halftime, Columbus wasted little time doubling its advantage. Just three minutes into the second half, Max Arfsten made it 2-0, finishing a clever feed from Jacen Russell-Rowe to beat Garcia one-on-one.

However, Toluca wasn’t finished. The Red Devils launched a barrage of shots, eventually breaking through in the 71st minute via Paulinho. Nine minutes later, they found the equalizer, leveling the score and evoking flashbacks to the Crew’s recent collapse against Orlando.

Columbus had a chance to win it late when Ibrahim Aliyu was fouled in the box, earning another penalty. Rossi stepped up once again, but this time Luis Garcia guessed correctly and made a crucial save — his first of several heroics to come.

With neither team able to find a winner during the eight minutes of stoppage time, the match went to penalties as dictated by Leagues Cup rules.

Toluca converted their first two penalties, while Garcia denied both Rossi and Amar Sejdic, putting Columbus in a deep hole. Schulte briefly kept hope alive with a save of his own, but despite conversions from Taha Habroune and Lassi Lappalainen, Toluca’s Hélio Castro sealed the shootout victory with a confident strike.

What’s Next?
Despite the loss, Columbus secures a point from the shootout defeat. The Crew aim to rebound as Leagues Cup Phase One continues. They’ll host Puebla Friday night at Lower.com Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.