Travel May Take Toll On Toluca In CCL Match

Toluca visits DC United on Wednesday after having played at home and in Trinidad & Tobago over the last six days.

Aug 26, 2009 1:28:26 AM

More On :  D.C. United, Toluca
Antonio Naelson- Toluca (Mexsport)
Perhaps the biggest challenge Toluca face on Wednesday is their own travel weariness.

Toluca, who visit MLS side DC United in a CONCACAF Champions League match, have started the Apertura 2009 season on a tear. Toluca have a 4-1 record and are tied with Morelia for most goals in the league (12).

But los Diablos Rojos might be slowed by a travel itinerary that has seen them traverse two long trips in a span of six days. Toluca beat San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Thursday, then returned home to face Santos Laguna in a league match, a game Toluca won 3-0.
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Now, the club is in the United States capital of Washington D.C. after another international flight.

Still, if there is a silver lining, it is the possible return of Hector Raul Mancilla. The Chilean international has scored 27 goals in the last two seasons but has missed most of the Apertura 2009 season with injury.

Mancilla's absence has led to Nestor Calderon's own rise to prominence. Calderon has five goals in five games and was named to the Mexican national team's roster for World Cup qualifying matches, to be played Sept. 5 against Costa Rica and Sept. 9 against Honduras.

Toluca also feature such talents as Raul Nava, Antonio Naelson "Zinha" and Carlos Esquivel.

In DC United, Toluca will face a team that is coming off a 0-0 draw in a league match at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy. DC began their own CONCACAF Champions League effort unsuccessfully as the club lost 3-1 at Marathon of Honduras.


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