MLS clubs won previous three Leagues Cup titles, but this year’s semifinals will be an all-Mexican affair. In Wednesday’s quarterfinals, Toluca beat Austin FC, 2-0, and Club America triumphed over the Columbus Crew, 2-0. Toluca’s work was made easier by red cards to Austin’s Joseph Rosales in the 40th minute and Ilie Sánchez in the […]
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Leagues Cup: Chicago Fire leads MLS clubs’ trophy quest
The Chicago Fire, seeking its first title since winning the 2006 U.S. Open Cup, hosts Monterrey on Tuesday in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals after a perfect League Phase. Also on Tuesday, Real Salt Lake faces Leon. On Wednesday, a pair of MLS strugglers will try to extend their surprising Leagues Cup runs against Liga MX foes.
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Leagues Cup: Perfect Chicago Fire and Austin FC complete quarterfinal field
The Chicago Fire, which entered as third-tier seed, beat defending Liga MX champion Cruz Azul, 2-0, to finish atop the MLS standings as the only MLS team to win all three of its games in regulation time. Austin FC finished second by tying Club América, 1-1, and winning the shootout.
Quarterfinals
Chicago Fire vs. Monterrey
Austin vs. Toluca
León vs. Real Salt Lake
América vs. Columbus
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Leagues Cup: Defending champ Seattle ousted by Chivas; Miami also exits
Last year’s champion, Seattle, and runner-up, Inter Miami, were both eliminated from the Leagues Cup with losses to Mexican foes on Wednesday.
Columbus and Real Salt Lake clinched two of MLS’s four knockout-stage spots thanks to the results on the penultimate day of Phase 1, while LAFC remained in contention with a shootout win over Querétaro.
Of the five MLS teams playing on Thursday, only Austin (vs. Club América) and Chicago (vs. Cruz Azul) control their own. Each can clinch a quarterfinal spots with a win or tie.
On the Liga MX side, Leon and Toluca booked quarterfinal spots.
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Leagues Cup: Charlotte and Cincinnati stumble
Perfect after their first two games, Charlotte and Cincinnati are now all but mathematically eliminated from Leagues Cup knockout-stage contention after falling to Mexican foes with no chance to advance. Columbus Crew moved atop the MLS side of the standings with a shootout win over already-eliminated Pumas. Real Salt Lake beat FC Juarez, one of only four Liga MX teams to win its first two games, 3-0, to move into second place.
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Leagues Cup: Ten Liga MX clubs already eliminated
More than half of the 18 Mexican clubs are out of contention for the quarterfinals after the first two rounds of the Leagues Cup’s three-round Phase 1. On the MLS side, Minnesota and Vancouver have been eliminated with a game to spare. Eliminated:Liga MX: Guadalajara, Pachuca, Tijuana, Atlas, Santos Laguna, Necaxa, Atlético de San Luis, Pumas, […]
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Messi missing after father’s death as Miami lose in Leagues Cup
Jorge Messi at age 68 in Argentina, where Lionel Messi arrived on Saturday night. Jorge Messi had been highly influential in his son’s career, beginning with his move to Barcelona as a young buy to receive hormone treatments.
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Leagues Cup: Philly falls at home; Portland wins big
After the first round of the league phase, MLS clubs have won 11 of 18 matchups with Liga MX foes.
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Leagues Cup: Messi sets scoring record in Miami victory
Lionel Messi, in his first start since the World Cup, scored twice in Inter Miami’s 4-2 win over Atletico San Luis. In two games hosted by Mexican clubs: defending champion Seattle fell, 3-0, at Toluca. Antoine Griezmann scored in Orlando City’s 2-1 win at Monterrey.
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Leagues Cup: Seattle starts title defense in Mexico
The fourth edition of the Leagues Cup will for the first time feature games — four of the 62 — hosted by Mexican clubs. The action kicks off Tuesday with six MLS-Liga MX matchups.