The Clausura 2018 Copa MX final was the final of the Clausura 2018 Copa MX, the twelfth edition of the Copa MX under its current format and 79th overall organized by the Mexican Football Federation, the governing body of association football in Mexico.
The final was contested in a single leg format between Liga MX clubs Necaxa and Toluca. The match was hosted by Necaxa at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes City, Aguascalientes on 11 April 2018. The winners earned a spot to face Monterrey (Apertura 2017 winners) in the 2018 Supercopa MX.
Qualified teams TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners)Necaxa4 (1960, 1966, 1995, Clausura 2016)Toluca3 (1956, 1961, 1989)
Venue
Due to the tournament's regulations, the higher seed among both finalists during the group stage will host the final, thus Estadio Victoria hosted the final. The venue has been home to Necaxa since the club relocated from Mexico City in the Apertura 2003 season. The venue has previously hosted various Ascenso MX finals, the most recent being the first leg of the 2015–16 promotional final where they defeated F.C. Juárez 1–0; the team would eventually be promoted to Liga MX after winning 3–0 on aggregate.
Background Necaxa has won the tournament three times while Toluca has won it twice. Before reaching the final, the last time Necaxa reached a final of any kind was the 2015–16 promotional final where they defeated F.C. Juárez 3–0 on aggregate, that same season the club also lost the Clausura 2016 Copa MX Final to Veracruz. Toluca last reached a final in 2014 where they lost the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League Final to Cruz Azul on away goals.
The clubs previously met in a final nearly 20 years earlier where a José Cardozo-led Toluca defeated an Alex Aguinaga-led Necaxa 6–4 on aggregate to capture the Mexican Primera División Verano 1998 championship.
Necaxa, won two, drew one and lost one during the group stage as they were seeded fifth. They eliminated Atlas in the Round of 16, UNAM in the quarterfinals, and Santos Laguna in the semifinals.
Toluca, won two, drew one and lost one during the group stage as they were seeded seventh. They eliminated Oaxaca in the Round of 16, Tapachula in the quarterfinals, and Zacatepec on penalty kicks in the semifinals.
Road to the finals Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first. NecaxaRoundTolucaOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResultZacatepec5–0 (H)Matchday 1Zacatecas2–2 (H)Murciélagos1–1 (A)Matchday 2Santos Laguna1–2 (A)Zacatepec0–2 (A)Matchday 3Santos Laguna2–0 (H)Murciélagos1–0 (H)Matchday 4Zacatecas4–3 (A)Group 6 runners-upFinal standingsGroup 4 winnersOpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResultAtlas2–1 (H)Round of 16Oaxaca2–0 (H)UNAM2–1 (A)QuarterfinalsTapachula3–1 (A)Santos Laguna2–1 (H)SemifinalsZacatepec1–1 (4–3 pen.) (A)
Final
GK 1 Marcelo Barovero (c)DF 17 Miguel Ponce DF 31 Ventura Alvarado DF 5 Igor LichnovskyDF 2 Brayan Beckeles MF 24 Fernando González MF 18 Felipe GallegosMF 13 Roberto Alvarado MF 10 Dieter Villalpando FW 15 Víctor Dávila FW 32 Carlos GonzálezSubstitutions:GK 25 Yosgart GutiérrezDF 33 Mario de Luna MF 7 Daniel ÁlvarezMF 8 Xavier Báez MF 29 Marcelo AllendeMF 34 Gustavo CulmaFW 9 Martín Barragán Manager: Ignacio Ambríz GK 1 Alfredo Talavera DF 26 Cristian BorjaDF 5 Osvaldo González DF 3 Santiago García DF 13 Aldo Benítez MF 15 Antonio Ríos MF 35 Juan Delgadillo MF 14 Rubens Sambueza (c) MF 24 Pablo Barrientos FW 23 Luis Quiñones FW 25 Alexis CaneloSubstitutions:GK 22 Luis Manuel GarcíaDF 4 Maximiliano Perg DF 33 Carlos Calvo MF 17 Leonel LópezMF 28 Jorge SartiaguinFW 10 Ángel Reyna FW 20 Fernando Uribe Manager: Hernán Cristante
Assistant referees: Marvin Torrentera Miguel Ángel Hernández Fourth official: Adonai Escobedo
References