Diego Rossi scored two goals in the second half to lead Columbus Crew, the current MLS champions, to a 3-2 victory over defending champions Inter Miami, securing their spot in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. The Uruguayan striker equalized for the host Crew in the 69th minute and scored the winning goal in the 80th minute to defeat Miami, who had been the top overall team in this MLS season. Miami’s standout player Lionel Messi was absent due to a lingering right ankle injury sustained a month prior during Argentina’s victory against Colombia in the Copa America final.
After their impressive victory over Inter Miami, the Columbus Crew will now turn their focus to the upcoming quarter-final match. They are set to host New York City FC on Saturday, a team that recently advanced by defeating Tigres 2-1. This clash promises to be another thrilling contest as both teams vie for a spot in the Leagues Cup semifinals.
Paraguayan Matias Rojas scored first for Inter Miami in the 10th minute, followed by compatriot Diego Gomez who extended the lead in the 62nd minute. Christian Ramirez scored for the Crew in the 67th minute, but Rossi secured the victory with a double.
The competition includes teams from MLS and Liga MX in Mexico, with Messi guiding Miami to victory in the first year after moving to Florida.
New York City came together to advance to the quarterfinals.
Tigres captain, Guido Pizarro, scored the first goal with a header in the 18th minute, while New York City’s Maxi Moralez equalized with a goal in the 20th minute.
Uruguayan Santiago Rodriguez secured the win for NYCFC by scoring the last goal in the 65th minute with a left-footed shot from the left side into the far post.
In Cincinnati, Tai Baribo scored two goals to help the Philadelphia Union win 4-2 against the home team.
Philadelphia took a 2-0 advantage with goals from Danish forward Mikael Uhre in the 51st minute and Israeli striker Baribo in the 61st.
Cincinnati’s Pavel Bucha scored for the team in the 66th minute, while DeAndre Yedlin equalized for the hosts in the 80th minute.
The Union answered with goals from Baribo in the 82nd minute and US substitute Quinn Sullivan in the 84th minute.
Mazatlan moves forward
Philadelphia’s journey in the Leagues Cup continues with a home quarter-final on Saturday, where they’ll face Mazatlan. The Mexican side advanced dramatically by defeating Cruz Azul in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in Washington. With both teams eager to progress, this match is set to be a high-stakes encounter.
Mazatlan took a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Bryan Colula in the 40th minute and Edgar Barcenas in stoppage time’s first minute.
Cruz Azul lost one player in the fourth minute of the second half when Argentine defender Gonzalo Piovi received a red card.
Nevertheless, Cruz Azul was not finished yet as Uriel Antuna netted a goal in the 84th minute and defender from Colombia Willer Ditta scored an equalizer in the beginning of added time.
Antuna, Ditta, and Giorgos Giakoumakis missed their penalty shots, resulting in Mazatlan’s 3-1 victory and progression to the next round.
In the upcoming quarter-finals, Toluca will play against Colorado and the victor will advance to face either Mexican champions Club America or St. Louis.
San Jose also played against Los Angeles FC, with the victorious team scheduled to travel to Seattle on Saturday.
Olivier Giroud, the top scorer in French history, can now play for LAFC after joining the team in May from AC Milan.