MIAMI, Florida – The 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32 continued on Thursday night with five teams punching their tickets to the Round of 16.
Among the winners were Queretaro in a 1-0 final over fellow Liga MX side Pumas at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Angel Sepulveda’s goal in the 74th served as the winning score.
The New York Red Bulls won the battle of the Big Apple, defeating city rivals New York City FC 1-0 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Omir Fernandez’s first half penalty conversion earned the Red Bulls the victory.
The other three matches played were all decided by a penalty shootout, including a thrilling 8-7 shootout win for the New England Revolution against Liga MX side Atlas after a 2-2 draw at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Down 2-0, the Revolution rallied to pull level at 2-2 thanks to Gustavo Bou’s brace and then won it in spot kicks.
Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania was the setting for another penalty shootout result, this one seeing home side Philadelphia Union edging fellow MLS outfit DC United 5-4 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw between the two.
The Leagues Cup journey for Six-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul came to an end with a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat versus Charlotte FC at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The two sides had played to a 0-0 draw before settling matters from the spot.
The other game slated for the night between reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Club Leon and Real Salt Lake at America First Field in Sandy, Utah was postponed to Friday due to weather. That game will join six other contests on the schedule for Friday to conclude the Round of 32.
An exciting encounter awaits at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois where the Chicago Fire will take on seven-time Concacaf champions Club America.
The Columbus Crew will welcome in Minnesota United to Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio in an all-MLS affair.
Another MLS vs. MLS contest will see FC Cincinnati face Nashville SC at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A rematch of a 2019 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 tie will be on the docket at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas where Sporting Kansas City will square off with Toluca. Four years ago, Sporting Kansas City defeated Toluca 3-0 at home in the first leg on their way to a 5-0 aggregate victory over the Liga MX side.
Two heavyweights in their respective leagues will meet at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, as the Portland Timbers welcome in high-flying Monterrey. The Rayados were one of the highest scoring teams during the group stage with seven goals in their two wins.
The night will then conclude with another Concacaf Champions Cup rematch between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Liga MX side Tigres at BC Place in Vancouver. These two teams met in the 2016-17 Champions Cup semifinals during which Tigres collected a 2-1 victory in the return leg in Vancouver as part of their 4-1 aggregate win.
