Banished Scotland man has trophy dream shattered by second-half collapse amid Euros flashback

Heading into the game at Estadio Nemesio Diez with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Porteous’ side were hoping to make the final of the competition for the third time in their history, but a second-half collapse saw their Liga MX hosts run riot in central Mexico to book a place in the final against Tigres later this month.

Goalless at the break, the home side opened the scoring early in the second period when Ryan Hollingshead was adjudged to have fouled Helinho on the edge of the area. The Brazilian made no mistake from the spot to put his side into the lead and level the tie on aggregate. Things went from bad to worse just 11 minutes later when a stunning long-range effort from Everardo Lopez flew beyond Hugo Lloris in the visitors’ goal to double Toluca’s advantage.

Porteous’ disastrous second-half was completed in the 86th minute when he was given a straight red card by referee Walter Alexander Lopez Castellanos after he was deemed to have been the last man when tripping Marcel Ruíz. Receiving a pass from Stephen Eustaquio on the edge of his area, the former Hibs man allowed the midfielder to nip the ball off his toes, before bringing him down as he made his way towards goal.

The 27-year-old protested his innocence, but it fell on deaf ears, with Porteous given his marching orders for the first time since Scotland’s 5-1 defeat to Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024, where he was sent off following a heavy challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. Experienced Portuguese striker Paulinho then capitalised on some slack defending to add to LAFC’s misery in injury time with a brace, sealing a comfortable 5-2 aggregate win for Toluca in the process.

Following the defeat, LAFC manager Marc Dos Santos launching a stinging attack on the MLS, claiming their inability to adjust their regular-season schedule was to blame for their heavy semi-final defeat. “This is not Championship Manager,” he fumed. “It's hard. The schedule is a scandal. I don't understand, who is the guy in the office that says, yeah, this is a good idea to have them play in San Diego [before travelling to Mexico]. They don't want us in the final? Like MLS has to help MLS teams."

Porteous, who hasn’t played for the national team since March 2025, remains hopeful of an international recall ahead of the World Cup, confessing he had recently spoken to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke about his chances of a reprieve with the Hibs Observer.

“Everyone knows how Steve operates,” said Porteous. “Fans can get frustrated if they want, but his job is to qualify for tournaments, and he’s done that consistently He’s always going to be loyal to the lads who got him there, and he’s been like that with me in the past, and he’s right to be. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about where he sees me compared to the last time he watched me, and where I might rank in his squad. I don’t think I’m too far away.”

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