Thrilling results highlight start of Leagues Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI, Florida – The second edition of the Leagues Cup kicked off on Friday, marking the start of Matchday One, which ran through the weekend and concluded on Sunday night with 15 matches played by teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX.

The journey to secure a top-three finish and a place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup started in the East Region where DC United edged Atlanta United 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a wild 3-3 draw in East 7 to earn two points. Next up will be DC United facing Santos Laguna on Wednesday.

Orlando City SC were convincing 4-1 winners against CF Montreal in East 2 to earn a full three points. CF Montreal will look to bounce back on Tuesday against Atletico San Luis.

Reigning Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami picked up where they left off by topping Puebla 2-0, thanks in part to a goal from former UEFA Champions League winner Luis Suarez. The action in East 3 continues on Wednesday with an all-Liga MX battle between Puebla and 2020 Champions Cup winners Tigres.

2023 Leagues Cup third-place finishers Philadelphia Union got this year’s campaign off to a winning start in a 1-0 final over Chalotte FC in East 4. Charlotte FC will get another crack at things on Wednesday against six-time Concacaf champions Cruz Azul.

In East 5, the New England Revolution enjoyed a combination of excellent defending and timely goalscoring in a 1-0 win versus Mazatlan. Next on the docket in the group is Mazatlan traveling to Nashville SC to take on the 2023 Leagues Cup runners-up on Wednesday.

Toronto FC sit on two points after one match thanks to their 5-4 penalty shootout victory against the New York Red Bulls after the two sides had played to a 0-0 draw in the first match of East 6. Entering the fray in the group on Tuesday are none other than reigning Concacaf club champions Pachuca, who face the Red Bulls.

New York City FC were 4-3 penalty shootout winners over Queretaro to start East 1, giving NYCFC two points, while Queretaro have one point. Queretaro will now hit the road to take on FC Cincinnati on Thursday.

In the West Region, one of the most dramatic Leagues Cup matches of all-time saw Austin FC defeat Pumas 3-2 in West 1. Austin FC were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute while holding a 1-0 lead, but managed to score another two goals and limit Pumas to two goals, thanks in part to a second half stoppage time penalty save from Stefan Cleveland, to pick up the three points. Austin FC now turn their attention to five-time Concacaf champions Monterrey on Tuesday.

2022 Champions Cup winners Seattle Sounders scored twice in the final 10 minutes to defeat Minnesota United in West 6. Minnesota United will try to get back on track on Tuesday against Necaxa.

2020 and 2023 Champions Cup finalists Los Angeles FC took care of business in a 3-0 victory against Club Tijuana on West 7 and next will face fellow MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday.

A late goal from Rivaldo Lozano was enough to propel Atlas to a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in West 8, giving Atlas the chance to secure first place in the group on Thursday when they meet Real Salt Lake.

Saint Louis City SC overcame an early deficit to defeat FC Dallas 2-1 in West 3. FC Dallas will try to pick up the pieces on Wednesday when they square off with Juarez.

West 2 was the scene of one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated Liga MX giants Chivas 4-3 in a penalty shootout. San Jose looked set to collect all three points, only for Chivas’ Roberto Alvardo to score in the dying moments of second half stoppage time to give each side a point in a 1-1 draw. San Jose earn the extra point based on their penalty shootout win.

Sporting Kansas City enjoyed a winning start in West 4, as they captured a 2-1 comeback victory against the Chicago Fire. Liga MX side Toluca will make their 2024 Leagues Cup debut on Thursday when they face Chicago.

Rounding out the weekend was Zac McGraw scoring his second goal of the night in the 90th minute to earn the Portland Timbers a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against 2023 Champions Cup winners Club Leon in West 5. Next up is a Thursday duel between Portland and the Colorado Rapids.