The Leagues Cup has been taking place for the last week with the Liga MX on a month-long break. In that time, all 18 Mexican top-flight sides have been competing with the best of the MLS to reach the next round.
At the time of writing, all but one group has been decided. The New England Revolution and Nashville SC go head-to-head tonight, but only one of these teams will join Mazatlán into the next round.
Here are the results of the final group stage matches:
Saturday 3rd August 2024
Tigres 2-1 Inter Miami
Monterrey 1 (0)-(3) 1 Pumas
Vancouver 3-1 Tijuana
Tigres beat regining champions Inter Miami in a game to decide which of the two would qualify as the group leaders. Both sides defeated Puebla in their first games, meaning that they both qualify for the round of 32, but Juan Pablo Vigon's winner 6 minutes from time confirmed Tigres' fate as group winners.
Next was a crucial match-up between Los Rayados and Pumas. Both sides lost their opening game against Austin FC, with the winner of this game earning passage into the next round. Jesus Corona gave Monterrey the lead before a lethal header from Rogelio Funes Mori in the 80th minute. Straight to penalties as Julio Gonzaléz was the hero for UNAM. His heroics in the shootout send Pumas through, where they will face Vancouver FC.
The final game of the night sealed the fate of Tijuana. Joining Monterrey and Puebla out of the tournament, Los Xolos took the lead within 8 minutes through Kevin Castaneda but Vancouver turned things around in the second half as Fabrice Picault equalled the scoring after half time. At 1-1, Tijuana were reduced to 10-men as Aaron Mejia was sent off before Levonte Johnson and Pedro Vite won the game for the Canadian side.
Sunday 4th August 2024
Orlando 1 (5)-(4) 1 Atlético San Luís
Philadelphia Union 1 (3)-(5) 1 Cruz Azul
Pachuca 1-2 Toronto FC
Atlanta United 0 (3)-(5) 0 Santos Laguna
Chivas 2 (4)-(5) 2 LA Galaxy
St Louis City 1 (1)- (4) 1Juárez
Seattle Sounders 1-3 Necaxa
The Saturday night affairs were a story of penalty shootout heartbreak and joy for many of the Liga MX sides involved.
San Luís had more than an hour to play against a 10-men Orlando but were unable to make it count. Going 1-0 down despite the advantage, they relied upon Rodrigo Dourado to equalise, meaning that they would be out of the competition regardless of the penalty shootout result. In the shootout, Orlando scored all 5 of their attempts, whilst Brazilian striker Léo missed to added further misery for San luís.
Cruz Azul went to a shootout after Philadelphia managed to score in the 88th minute to tie the game. In the shootout, Azul scored all 5 of their efforts, whilst Daniel Gazdag, who scored during regular time, was unable to convert. The result means that both teams will be in the next round, as Charlotte FC is the unlucky side to miss out.
Only one of two games that did not go to a shootout was Pachuca during their 2-1 defeat to Toronto. The result confirms that the Canadians won the group but the Hidalgo side still managed to qualify to arrange a round of 32 tie with Tigres.
Santos needed a win against Atlanta to provide any chance of qualification, but a goalless draw was enough for them to reach the next round where they will face Cincinnati FC.
Chivas scored first through Alan Mozo but were pegged back by Joseph Paintsil before Gabriel Pec put the LA side in front. Heading out of the tournament, LA-born Cade Cowell tied the game in the 91st minute, giving Chivas a lifeline. Later disappointment in the shootout means that Chivas will miss out on the next round as San Jose qualify in their place.
The fifth and final penalty shootout of the night was won by Juárez after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. Four minutes separated the two goals and with both teams winning their opening games against Dallas, a draw was enough to send both sides through. All that was left to deicde was who would go through as group leaders. Juárez scored all 4 of their penalties but misses from Cedric Teuchert and Marcel Hartel confirmed the added point for the Liga MX side to top the group.
Adding to the joy for Liga MX fans, Necaxa needed a win to give any chance of qualification. Both Seattle and Minnesota won their opening games, but with the Sounders having a better goal difference, their fate was all but confirmed. During the game, Seattle scored first through Obed Vargas but Necaxa responded with two goals before half time to turn the game on its head. Heading through with more goals scored, the Aguascalientes side scored once more to top the group on goal difference as Kevin Rosero netted in added time.
Sunday 5th August 2024
Toluca 2-1 Sporting KC
León 1 (3)-(4) 1 Colorado
Toluca joined Tigres as becoming the only Liga MX clubs to win both of their group stage games with Jesus Angulo adding to his goal against the Chicago Fire and Maximiliano Araujo opening his account for the tournament.
León faced heartbreak when Colorado scored a 97th minute equaliser to stop them from qualifying into the next round. All hope was not lost at that point, knowing that a win on penalties would still see them join Portland Timbers. However, misses from Mexican legends Andrés Guardado and Salvador Reyes means that they went from seconds away from qualifying to missing out completely on the rest of the tournament.
The conclusion of the group stages means that the following teams are out of the Leagues Cup:
Monterrey
Chivas
León
Tijuana
Querétaro
Atlético San Luís
Puebla
For the remaining 12 team (including the introduction of reigning Liga MX champions Club América), they all advance to the round of 32.