Credit: Columbus Crew
The 2025 Leagues Cup began on Tuesday, starting with Montreal beating Leon 7-6 on penalties after drawing 1-1. Rogelio Funes Mori put Leon up in the 11th with Prince Owusu equalizing for Montreal in the 62nd minute. Leon failed to convert in the seventh round of penalties, while Montreal converted all seven of their penalties.
“Today was probably one of the best games of the season,” Montreal interim coach Marco Donadel said. “We are improving physically. The relationship between our players on the field is very good. Our goal was to try to stay alive in the competition after tonight and I think that we reached our goal.”
Columbus lost 4-2 on penalties to Toluca after drawing 2-2 at Lower.com Field. Diego Rossi put the Crew up from the penalty spot in the 11th and Max Arfsten doubled the lead in the 48th. Toluca’s Paulinho scored in the 71st and equalized in the 80th. Columbus failed to convert in the first and second rounds of penalties with Toluca not converting in round three.
“To be honest, I’m happy with the performance,” Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy said. “We had our moments, and they had also their moments. If we [were] a little bit cleaner, I think that it could have been better, but again, this is the situation for the moment.”
NYCFC lost 3-0 to Puebla at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Juan Fedorco opened the scoring for Puebla, Emiliano Gomez doubled the lead in the 38th, and Owen Gonzalez finished off the goals in the 88th minute.
“The way we started off the game always made it hard for us, conceding in the first few minutes,” NYCFC midfielder Justin Haak said. “We just need to focus on dealing with the intensity of the game. We know how these teams are going to come out and play and we can’t be starting games the way we did.”
Tigres beat Houston 4-1 at Shell Energy Stadium. Angel Correa opened the scoring for Tigres three minutes into stoppage time. The Dynamo’s Ondrej Lingr equalized in the 47th. Tigres retook the lead from a Diego Lainez goal in the 63rd, Correa scored again in the 70th, and Ozziel Herrera extended the lead seven minutes into stoppage time.
Mazatlan beat LAFC 11-10 on penalties after drawing 1-1 at BMO Stadium. LAFC’s David Martinez opened the scoring in the 29th and Fabio equalized for Mazatlan in the 31st minute. Mazatlan failed to convert in the second round of penalties and LAFC didn’t convert in rounds three and twelve.
Pachuca won 3-2 at San Diego. Victor Guzman put Pachuca up in the 23rd and Alexei Dominguez added goals three minutes into first-half stoppage time and the 67th. Emmanuel Boateng scored for San Diego in the 88th. San Diego’s Anders Dreyer saw red two minutes into stoppage time. Luca Bombino pulled a goal back for San Diego ten minutes into stoppage time.
“Our guys kept pushing for the game,” San Diego coach Mikey Varas said. “And something I’m really, really proud about is the character of the group, you know, down three zero to bring it back, three-two, score a goal, player down, and to get ourselves into some pretty dangerous situations where it could be three-three. You know, we could be sitting here. I think if we play five more minutes, we could be sitting here with a three, three result, but it wasn’t our day.”
WEDNESDAY’S SOCCER TV
Club friendly on CBS Sports: Yokohama Mariners vs Liverpool at 6:30am. ESPN Deportes has Mallorca vs Lyon at 11:30am, Wolfsburg vs Espanyol at 1pm and Coventry City vs Real Betis at 2pm.. Al Nassr vs Toulouse at 11:30am. Peru’s Primera Division on Fox Deportes: Sporting Cristal vs Sport Huancayo at 4:15pm. USL Championship on CBS Sports: Hartford vs New Mexico at 8pm. Leagues Cup on FS1: UNAM Pumas vs Orlando City at 8pm and Portland vs San Luis at 10:30pm. Central American Cup on Fox Soccer Plus: Herediano vs Real Espana at 10pm ET.
THURSDAY’S SOCCER TV
Club friendlies on ESPN Deportes: Mallorca vs Parma at 5am. Super Taca on beIN sport: Sporting vs Benfica at 3:45pm. Central American Cup on Fox Soccer Plus: Alajuelense vs Plaza Amador at 10pm. Peru’s Primera Division on GolTV: Universitario vs Atletico Grau at 10pm. Leagues Cup on FS1: Cruz Azul vs Seattle at 10:30pm ET.
FRIDAY’S SOCCER TV
Club friendlies on ESPN Deportes: Augsburg vs Crystal Palace at 12pm. Uruguay’s Primera Division on GolTV: Penarol vs Progreso at 7pm. Peru’s Primera Division on Fox Deportes: Deportivo Garcilaso vs Cienciano at 8pm. Women’s Copa America 3rd-place game at 8pm on FS2. Leagues Cup on FS1: Tigres vs San Diego at 11pm ET.
Quotes courtesy of MLS team press releases.
Photo by the Columbus Crew
