Toluca ends a 15-year title drought in Mexico with a 2-0 win over Club America

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Brazilian defender Luan Garcia and Alexis Vega scored second-half goals and Toluca ended a 15-year title drought by beating Club America 2-0 on Sunday in the final of the Clausura tournament.

The first leg of the Mexican final finished in 0-0 draw last week and it took more than an hour in the return match before the deadlock was broken. Garcia put the Diablos Rojos ahead in the 65th and Vega scored on a penalty kick in the 82nd to seal the win.

Toluca secured its 11th championship to place third on the all-time list of champions in Mexico behind America (16) and Chivas (12).

For Toluca coach Antonio Mohamed, it was a fourth title in Mexico — all with different sides. The 55- year-old Argentine won previously with Tijuana, America and Monterrey.

With the win, Toluca prevented America from winning a fourth straight title, something that has happened only once before in Mexico, when Chivas won from 1958 until 1962.

America, which reached the final after knocking out crosstown rival Cruz Azul in a rematch of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, will have little time to rest because they will play the LAFC in Los Angeles on May 31 in a qualification playoff for the last spot in the Club World Cup.

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Toluca's goalkeeper Luis Garcia walks on the pitch covered in smoke from flares during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match against America at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Toluca's Luan Garcia, right, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal against America during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Toluca's Luan Garcia celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against America during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Toluca's Luan Garcia celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against America during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Toluca players celebrate after beating 2-0 America during the Mexican soccer league second leg final match at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Cedric Coward hit two late 3-pointers and scored 21 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies hold off the Brooklyn Nets 103-98 on Sunday.

Jock Landale added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Santi Aldama had 15 points and eight rebounds. Cam Spencer had 12 points and 12 assists in the Grizzlies' last game before their two-game series against Orlando in Berlin and London.

Noah Clowney and Tyrese Martin led the Nets with 17 points each, and Danny Wolf and Jalen Wilson scored 11 points each. Wolf also had 10 rebounds. Martin was 6 of 8, going 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

Brooklyn led 98-90 after Clowney split a pair of free throws with three minutes left. Memphis scored the final 13 points, with Coward's second late 3 giving the Grizzlies a 101-98 lead with just less than a minute to go.

Memphis, which squandered a 21-point second-half lead Friday night in a loss to Oklahoma City, watched the Nets opened the second half with a 17-6 rally to pull even at 67.

Michael Porter Jr., who had 18 points and six assists in Friday's 121-105 loss to the Clippers, sat for the game due to rest. The Nets are playing 17 games this month, and Sunday was the first night of a road back-to-back.

Memphis led by 16 in the first half and had a 61-50 advantage at the break.

Brooklyn only had five free throws in the half, compared to 14 for Memphis — a point Nets coach Jordi Fernandez made clear to the officiating crew several times.

Nets: At Dallas on Monday night.

Grizzlies: Play Orlando on Thursday night in Berlin and Sunday in London.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) passes over Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson, right, shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) defends Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) handles the ball against Brooklyn Nets guards Nolan Traore (88) and Cam Thomas, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. shoots over Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)