MIAMI, Florida – Round One of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup continues on Wednesday with a contrast of styles in the first leg between Herediano of Costa Rica and Mexican side Toluca at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides, but for 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup semifinalists Herediano, this will be their 16^th Champions Cup appearance.

Herediano with history of success against Liga MX opponents

The Ticos are enjoying a very good start to their domestic campaign in Costa Rica and sit atop the table with a 4W-0D-1L record, having conceded just three goals.

That defensive fortitude will be put to the test by a Toluca attack that leads Liga MX in scoring this season with 13 goals through five matches.

Herediano GK Aaron Cruz will need to be at his best against the visitors and can look to his experience from six previous Champions Cup editions for confidence.

The Costa Ricans will also need to do damage in attack and can rely on veterans Elias Aguilar and John Jairo Ruiz for help. Aguilar has three goals in 23 Champions Cup matches, while Ruiz already has a goal in the domestic season for Herediano.

Toluca are in the Champions Cup for the 13^th time and their first since 2019. The Mexican side reached the Final in the 2013-14 edition and were champions in 1968 and 2003, so a new generation of players will be looking to bring a third title to the club.

Toluca arrive into the contest full of confidence after scoring four goals in a weekend win over 2023 Champions Cup winners Club Leon. Juan Pablo Dominguez and Alexis Vega were among the goal scorers in that 4-1 win and will be attempting to do the same in Costa Rica on Wednesday night.

Dominguez had four goals in the 2023 Clausura, while Vega always seems to shine bright in Concacaf tournaments, winning the Golden Ball in the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.

CS Herediano (CRC) vs Deportivo Toluca FC (MEX)

REF:         PIERRE-LUC LAUZIÈRE (Canada)

AR1:         LYES ARFA (Canada)

AR2:         STEFAN TANAKA-FREUNDT (Canada)

4TH:         REON RADIX (Grenada)

VAR:        CHRIS PENSO (USA)

VAR1:      JOSEPH DICKERSON (USA)