Austin FC, Portland off to rocking starts in Leagues Cup

MIAMI, Florida – Major League Soccer sides Austin FC and Portland Timbers have taken the 2024 Leagues Cup by storm through two matchdays and have positioned themselves as contenders for a top-three finish and a place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup

In the West Region, Austin FC rolled to two wins in two matches against Liga MX opposition. After downing Pumas 3-2 in their opener, Austin FC defeated five-time Concacaf champions Monterrey 2-0 to win West 1. Second place in the group between Pumas and Monterrey will be decided on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Galaxy have secured a place in the Round of 32 after topping the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in West 2. The Galaxy return to action on Sunday in the group finale against Chivas, who sit on one point, just behind second-place San Jose, who have two points.

Juarez posted a 2-0 win over FC Dallas to clinch their place in the next round. They will meet St. Louis City SC, who have also advanced, on Sunday to determine the winner of West 3.

The story is the same in West 4 with both Toluca and Sporting Kansas City sitting on three points each and assured of a place in the last 32. Toluca defeated the Chicago Fire 3-1 to sew up their knockout round place. Toluca will now face Sporting Kansas City on Monday.

Portland have been very impressive in West 5 in picking up back-to-back wins against Club Leon and most recently, the Colorado Rapids 4-0. Portland advance as the first place in the group while the winner of Monday’s Club Leon-Colorado contest will decide the second team to progress from the group.

Margins are tight in West 6 following Minnesota United’s 1-0 win over Necaxa. Next up is a Sunday date between the Seattle Sounders and Necaxa. Both Seattle and Minnesota United are on three points, but Necaxa can leapfrog them both win a win by a two-goal margin.

Los Angeles FC have punched their ticket to the Round of 32 after producing a late comeback against the Vancouver Whitecaps in West 7. Down 2-0 going into the final minutes, LAFC came up with goals in the 88’ and 90+5’ to earn a 2-2 draw and a precious point, despite losing in the penalty shootout, 4-2. The group will now come down to Saturday’s encounter between Vancouver and Club Tijuana. Club Tijuana must win in order to advance, while Vancouver only require a draw.

Real Salt Lake opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 win against Atlas, setting up an interesting final day in West 8 on Monday. Both Real Salt Lake and Atlas are on three points, with Real Salt Lake and Houston playing the finale. A Real Salt Lake result would guarantee passage for both Real Salt Lake and Atlas.

The East Region has been just as exciting and in East 1, both FC Cincinnati and New York City FC have clinched spots in the Round of 32 after FC Cincinnati edged Queretaro 1-0. FC Cincinnati and NYCFC meet on Monday to determine the group winner.

CF Montreal slipped past Atletico San Luis 3-2 and will now await their East 2 fate in Sunday’s Orlando City SC-Atletico San Luis group finale. Both Orlando City and CF Montreal are on three points, while Atletico San Luis have zero.

The two teams advancing from East 3 is decided, with 2023 Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami and Tigres through to the next round after Tigres topped Puebla 2-1. Inter Miami and Tigres meet on Saturday to determine the group winner.

The 0-0 draw between Charlotte FC and Cruz Azul guaranteed the Philadelphia Union a place in the next round out of East 4. The Union are on three points and next face Cruz Azul on Sunday. Cruz Azul, with one point, will be looking to jump a Charlotte FC side with two points in the standings.

In East 5, Mazatlan’s 2-0 win against 2023 Leagues Cup runners-up Nashville SC secured a Round of 32 spot for the Mexican side, while Tuesday’s match-up between Nashville and the New England Revolution will determine the other spot. The Revolution are on three points and only require a draw to advance.

Both Pachuca and Toronto FC have booked their knockout round spots with two points each after Pachuca edged the New York Red Bulls 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. Pachuca and Toronto FC meet on Sunday to decide the winner of East 6.

DC United marched to a 3-0 win versus Santos Laguna to clinch a first-place finish in East 7. Santos Laguna, with no points, face Atlanta United, with one point, on Sunday to decide the second-place finisher.

In the West Region, Austin FC rolled to two wins in two matches against Liga MX opposition. After downing Pumas 3-2 in their opener, Austin FC defeated five-time Concacaf champions Monterrey 2-0 to win West 1. Second place in the group between Pumas and Monterrey will be decided on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Galaxy have secured a place in the Round of 32 after topping the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in West 2. The Galaxy return to action on Sunday in the group finale against Chivas, who sit on one point, just behind second-place San Jose, who have two points.

Juarez posted a 2-0 win over FC Dallas to clinch their place in the next round. They will meet St. Louis City SC, who have also advanced, on Sunday to determine the winner of West 3.

The story is the same in West 4 with both Toluca and Sporting Kansas City sitting on three points each and assured of a place in the last 32. Toluca defeated the Chicago Fire 3-1 to sew up their knockout round place. Toluca will now face Sporting Kansas City on Monday.

Portland have been very impressive in West 5 in picking up back-to-back wins against Club Leon and most recently, the Colorado Rapids 4-0. Portland advance as the first place in the group while the winner of Monday’s Club Leon-Colorado contest will decide the second team to progress from the group.

Margins are tight in West 6 following Minnesota United’s 1-0 win over Necaxa. Next up is a Sunday date between the Seattle Sounders and Necaxa. Both Seattle and Minnesota United are on three points, but Necaxa can leapfrog them both win a win by a two-goal margin.

Los Angeles FC have punched their ticket to the Round of 32 after producing a late comeback against the Vancouver Whitecaps in West 7. Down 2-0 going into the final minutes, LAFC came up with goals in the 88’ and 90+5’ to earn a 2-2 draw and a precious point, despite losing in the penalty shootout, 4-2. The group will now come down to Saturday’s encounter between Vancouver and Club Tijuana. Club Tijuana must win in order to advance, while Vancouver only require a draw.

Real Salt Lake opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 win against Atlas, setting up an interesting final day in West 8 on Monday. Both Real Salt Lake and Atlas are on three points, with Real Salt Lake and Houston playing the finale. A Real Salt Lake result would guarantee passage for both Real Salt Lake and Atlas.

The East Region has been just as exciting and in East 1, both FC Cincinnati and New York City FC have clinched spots in the Round of 32 after FC Cincinnati edged Queretaro 1-0. FC Cincinnati and NYCFC meet on Monday to determine the group winner.

CF Montreal slipped past Atletico San Luis 3-2 and will now await their East 2 fate in Sunday’s Orlando City SC-Atletico San Luis group finale. Both Orlando City and CF Montreal are on three points, while Atletico San Luis have zero.

The two teams advancing from East 3 is decided, with 2023 Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami and Tigres through to the next round after Tigres topped Puebla 2-1. Inter Miami and Tigres meet on Saturday to determine the group winner.

The 0-0 draw between Charlotte FC and Cruz Azul guaranteed the Philadelphia Union a place in the next round out of East 4. The Union are on three points and next face Cruz Azul on Sunday. Cruz Azul, with one point, will be looking to jump a Charlotte FC side with two points in the standings.

In East 5, Mazatlan’s 2-0 win against 2023 Leagues Cup runners-up Nashville SC secured a Round of 32 spot for the Mexican side, while Tuesday’s match-up between Nashville and the New England Revolution will determine the other spot. The Revolution are on three points and only require a draw to advance.

Both Pachuca and Toronto FC have booked their knockout round spots with two points each after Pachuca edged the New York Red Bulls 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. Pachuca and Toronto FC meet on Sunday to decide the winner of East 6.

DC United marched to a 3-0 win versus Santos Laguna to clinch a first-place finish in East 7. Santos Laguna, with no points, face Atlanta United, with one point, on Sunday to decide the second-place finisher.