Miami (AFP) – Mexican giants Club America suffered a surprise exit from the Leagues Cup at the hands of Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, leaving the tournament with no teams from Liga MX in the last four. In the semi-finals of the joint Liga MX-MLS tournament, reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew will face the Philadelphia Union while the Rapids will face Los Angeles FC.
America, the most decorated team in Mexico, were playing a ‘home’ game in Carson, California, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and attracted thousands of Mexican-American supporters to back them. But they were left disappointed after their goalless draw, with few chances for either team, went to a shoot-out which the Rapids won 9-8. The marathon shoot-out ended up in sudden death, with both teams’ goalkeepers taking kicks, and after Colorado’s Zack Steffen slotted home, Luis Malagon scuffed his effort wide.
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The other Mexican club in the last eight, Mazatlan, also exited via a shoot-out, losing at the Philadelphia Union. Philadelphia had found themselves a man down just before half-time when forward Tai Baribo was harshly sent off for a second yellow card offense. But two minutes later, Danish forward Mikael Uhre put the Union ahead when he broke down the left and cut inside before finishing with a deft chip over Mazatlan keeper Ricardo Gutierrez.
The Liga MX team drew level in the 59th minute when Alonso Escoboza rose to head in a cross from Ramiro Arciga. But despite their numerical and possession advantage, Mazatlan were unable to find a winner, with Philly keeper Andre Blake ensuring the game went to a shoot-out after a brilliant reflex save kept out a goalbound header from Facundo Almada. Jamaican Blake was the hero in the shoot-out with two superb saves as Jim Curtin’s side won 4-3 to make it to the last four for successive seasons.
Columbus marched into the last four with a 4-3 win on penalties over New York City after the game ended 1-1, while a ten-man Union also needed a shoot-out to beat Mexican team Mazatlan. Just 14 seconds into the game in Columbus, visitors New York took the lead when Alonso Martinez robbed Crew defender Rudy Camacho and burst into the box before slotting home.
Striker Cucho Hernandez had a great chance to level the game but dragged his shot wide from inside the box and the Colombian forced a fine save from Matt Freese. But four minutes before the interval, Columbus, who had eliminated Cup holders Inter Miami in the previous round, drew level. Max Arfsten whipped in a cross from the right and Hernandez met it with a perfectly angled header into the bottom corner.
Chances were rare in the second half, and despite plenty of late pressure from Columbus, the game went to the shoot-out. Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte saved from Maxi Moralez, but then Diego Rossi saw his effort saved by City’s Freese. After New York’s Santiago Rodriguez blasted his effort high and wide, it was left to DeJuan Jones to clinch the victory with a cool penalty.
The only team to win in regulation were Los Angeles FC, who progressed after an impressive 3-0 victory at the Seattle Sounders. Ryan Hollingshead slotted LAFC ahead in the 14th minute before veteran Kei Kamara doubled the lead 11 minutes later. Denis Bouanga wrapped up the win in the 53rd minute with a clinical finish after racing on to a ball over the top from French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
© 2024 AFP
