⏪ De Paul dazzles again; América win on pens; Orlando oust Atlas | OneFootball

The 2025 Leagues Cup was back in action once more in the wake of Liga MX enjoying a strong evening of results yesterday, including a huge win that saw minnows Mazatlán oust Houston in a 2-0 win.

With both Inter Miami and Club América in action tonight to lead the playbill, here is how the action broke down across some of the most intriguing fixtures.

Ten-man Águilas show resolve against Minnesota

Scorers: Boxall (OG) 27’, Zúñiga 53’, Cáceres 90'; Oluwaseyi 16’, Hlongwane 31’, Harvey 65’

Sent Off: Lichnovsky 62’ (second yellow)

Penalties: ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅ América - Minnesota ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌

Mexican giants Club América showed why they are one of the top sides in CONCACAF after fighting back to collect two points against Minnesota United.

The Loons flew into a lead in the 16th minute when Canadian forward Tani Oluwaseyi muscled his way into the box before calmly finishing past Luis Malagón.

An own goal credited to Minnesota’s Michael Boxall would get América back on level terms in the 27th minute, but Eric Ramsey’s men would restore their one-goal lead four minutes later through Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

América fought back a second time to pull level in the 53rd minute when Álex Zendejas played an inch-perfect ball into the box for Raúl Zúñiga to head home back across goal and into the bottom corner.

But the Liga MX would go down a man when Igor Lichnovsky was sent off after a second booking for bringing down Oluwaseyi in the 62nd minute, and the Loons would immediately pounce on the opportunity to make it 3-2 on the night through a driven finish by Carlos Harvey.

Despite being a man down, Águilas found a third equalizer thanks to a towering header from Sebastián Cáceres on the stroke of added time before Malagón produced a world-class save to deny Harvey from completing his brace.

The second Leagues Cup shootout on the night would ultimately result in América converting all eight penalties to come away with a result that sees them remain in contention for progression beyond the league phase.

De Paul leads Inter Miami to shootout triumph

Scorers: Segovia 12’, Alba 90+2'; Badaloni 33’, Monreal 81’

Sent Off: Falcón 17’; Calderón 59’ (second yellow)

Penalties: ✅✅✅✅✅ Inter Miami - Necaxa ✅✅❌✅✅

Inter Miami dug deep to rescue a key result during a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Necaxa before sealing the deal on penalties.

The Herons would suffer a massive blow after Lionel Messi was subbed off due to injury just ten minutes into the match, though they would take a 1-0 lead moments later thanks to a curled long-range hit by Telasco Segovia.

Javier Mascherano’s side would suffer a second blow when Maximiliano Falcón received a straight red for bringing down Diber Cambindo as the last man.

Necaxa pounced on the man advantage in the 33rd minute when Tomás Badaloni popped up in the box to convert a close-range effort to level the scoreline at 1-1.

But manpower parity would be restored in the 59th minute when Cristian Calderón was given his marching orders after a second booking, gifting the Herons a chance to pull back into the lead.

Without Messi’s magic, Necaxa took a late lead in the 81st minute after Ricardo Monreal drove into the box to slip his effort past Rocco Novo, only for Jordi Alba to head home a late equalizer in stoppage time.

The two sides were then locked into the shootout after full-time, with Inter Miami going five-for-five from the spot to ensure five points from six in the league phase.

Ojeda ensures three points for the Lions

Scorers: Angulo 10’, Ojeda 57’, Pašalić 90+12'; Cóccaro 49’

Sent Off: Cóccaro 90+7'

Orlando City banked all three points during a hard-fought 3-1 win over Atlas at Inter&Co Stadium to make it four points from six in the Leagues Cup.

Early pressure by Orlando saw them open the scoring inside the first ten minutes of action with a composed finish from Iván Angulo, who netted his first goal since October 5th of last year.

A close-range headed goal from Matías Cóccaro would finally level the scoreline at one-all in the 49th minute, taking advantage of Orlando’s inability to find a second before the break.

Orlando would once again put themselves back up by a goal eight minutes later, however, with Martín Ojeda continuing his rich vein of form with a thunderous effort from inside the box.

The home side would extend their lead in the 12th minute of added time in the wake of Atlas being reduced to ten men when Marco Pašalić thumped an effort into the top corner from less than 18 yards out to put the result out of sight.

📸 Leonardo Fernandez - 2025 Getty Images