Leagues Cup Phase 3 Matchday 8 Fixtures | OneFootball

Tuesday night’s Matchday 7 games featured the top Liga MX sides competing to lock in their Top 4 position, and man was THAT interesting. Toluca, Pachuca and Puebla all won; Tigres and Mazatlán fell.

Tonight on Matchday 8 we get something similar, only for the MLS. The teams currently ranked 2nd through 5th all play, and by the final whistle we could have the Top 4 spots all wrapped up.

Orlando City vs. Necaxa

August 6 @ 7:00pm ETInter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FLStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

After all the drama on Tuesday, Necaxa woke up to see that this match still offers very positive window for advancement. A regulation win catapults them over Tigres, Puebla and Pachuca into 2nd place. Even a shootout win where they score at least two goals would secure 3rd. Juarez and Pumas are the only remaining threats.

Orlando are in nearly exact same scenario, but with a significantly more crowded field. Ten of the remaining eighteen MLS sides have four or more points; eight have a match today or tomorrow. It will be a nervy time, both on field and watching other results.

With some much on the line, we know both teams will be giving it their all!

Atlanta United FC vs. Atlas

August 6 @ 7:30pm ETMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GABroadcast on TUDNStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

Which brings us to this fixture. Both teams sit one rung from the bottom, in 17th place. Win, lose, draw… the result is irrelevant. Both teams return to league play on Saturday, so one thing is likely: they’ll be resting the starters and giving bench players some valuable minutes.

Inter Miami CF vs. Pumas UNAM

August 6 @ 7:30pm ETChase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FLStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

Pumas and Miami both have five points and are very much in the hunt for the knockout stage. A regulation win would advance the victor; the loser is hasta la vista. A draw would be interesting, and open up other scenarios.

Not that Inter Miami needed any more inspiration, mind you. Every match they’ve played has been a banger; tonight should be one as well. Messi will be on the bench due to injury, but they proved they can win without him last Saturday. Pumas UNAM have been effective, showing their grit with a 3 – 2 win over Atlanta on Saturday. Defender Keylor Neves is suspended, but the bigger question is whether they’ll be able to handle Inter’s more potent attacking threats.

Minnesota United FC vs. Atlético de San Luis

August 6 @ 8:30pm ETAllianz Field, Saint Paul, MNStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

Atlético de San Luis must face the futility of their predicament: effectively eliminated and facing a team within reach of a knockout spot. On the plus side, their next Apertura fixture is on Monday. It will be curious to see if they go for broke to spoil the Loons’ knockout ambitions.

Matchday 8 could be a special one for Minnesota. The Loons have yet to win a major trophy, and some Leagues Cup hardware would give the Allianz display case some glitter. They also don’t return to MLS league play until Sunday, and that extra rest day could enable them to start their best side.

Club América vs. Portland Timbers

August 6 @ 9:30pm ETQ2 Stadium, Austin, TXStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

América are in very similar circumstances as San Luis, but without the two extra rest days. With an upcoming Apertura match on Saturday, plus key player Igor Lichnovsky benched via suspension, they could field a weaker starting eleven. That could give Portland, currently sitting in 3rd place, an easier time. The ball’s squarely in the Timbers’ court; they simply have to strike it home.

Real Salt Lake vs. Querétaro

August 6 @ 9:30pm ETAmerica First Field, Sandy, UTStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

Meaningless game. Nothing to see here, folks. Move on. But to be fair, RSL will probably look at this match as a way to gather some momentum before Sunday’s MLS league tie at NY Red Bulls. Opposition doesn’t get much softer than Querétaro.

Seattle Sounders vs. Tijuana

August 6 @ 11:00pm ETLumen Field, Seattle, WAStreaming on AppleTV MLS Season Pass

Seattle is in 2nd with a whopping +8 GD. They could draw AND lose the shootout and are probably still going to advance. They also don’t play until Sunday, and against the lowly LA Galaxy at that. I expect them to bring all the big guns to Lumen Field and use them. Tijuana recovered from that poor start at LA by beating Colorado. But with a big Apertura match at Mazatlán on Saturday, and no hope for advancement, I can’t see them taking matchday 8 too seriously.