Leagues Cup: Guadalajara edge Charlotte on penalties, Cruz Azul outlast LA Galaxy in thrilling shootout

Richy Ledezma and Bryan González each netted their first goals for CD Guadalajara, helping the visitors earn a 4-2 penalty shootout win after a 2-2 draw with Charlotte FC on Matchday 2 of Leagues Cup group play.

Chivas (0-1-1, 2 points) stayed in knockout contention thanks to goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, who redeemed himself in the shootout by saving Tyger Smalls’ effort - after conceding a soft equaliser to Kerwin Vargas in the 90th minute off a near-post free kick.

Charlotte (0-1-1, 1 point), later eliminated by other results, had taken an early lead via an own goal from Guadalajara’s Gilberto Sepúlveda in the 11th minute.


Chivas responded with a crisp strike from Ledezma in the 24th minute and a powerful header from González in the 66th. Charlotte’s hopes took a further hit when top scorer Pep Biel exited with an injury in the 32nd minute. The draw and shootout win gave Chivas a vital two points.

Cruz Azul beat LA Galaxy 8-7 on penalties

Kevin Mier emerged as the hero for Cruz Azul, saving consecutive penalty kicks on the LA Galaxy’s eighth and ninth attempts to secure a dramatic shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in Leagues Cup group play.

Charly Rodríguez opened the scoring for Cruz Azul (0-1-1, 2 points) in the 21st minute, finishing off a sharp cross from Carlos Rotondi for his first goal of the tournament and third in the Liga MX Apertura.

LA Galaxy found their equaliser late, with Gabriel Pec sliding in Mauricio Cuevas’ cross in the 81st minute for his second goal of the competition.

In the shootout, both teams were flawless through seven rounds, before Galaxy’s Edwin Cerillo and Emil Garces had their spot kicks denied by Mier - clinching the extra point for Cruz Azul and keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.

Monterrey overcome New York Red Bulls 5-3 in shootout

CF Monterrey (0-1-1, 2 points) kept their knockout stage hopes alive by converting all five penalties in a shootout victory following a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls in Cincinnati.

Goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas made a crucial save during the shootout, while controversy struck when Carlos Coronel initially appeared to stop Luis Reyes’ spot-kick. However, the Red Bulls keeper was ruled to have moved off his line early, and Reyes converted on the retake.

New York took the lead in the 19th minute through Julian Hall, who latched onto Daniel Edelman’s long through ball and fired a clinical finish past Cárdenas. Monterrey equalized in the 38th minute when Sergio Canales - scoring his second goal of the tournament - pounced on a rebound after Coronel saved Ricardo Chávez’s header.

With the 1-1 draw, Rayados secured an extra point through the shootout, keeping their Leagues Cup campaign alive.

FC Juarez edge FC Cincinnati 4-3 in tie-breaker

Sebastián Jurado came up clutch with two penalty saves to help Juárez claim a shootout victory after surrendering a two-goal lead in the second half against FC Cincinnati.

Juárez (1-0-1, 5 points) appeared to be in control after Ricardinho opened the scoring with a header assisted by Guilherme Castilho, who later added a goal of his own in the second half. But Cincinnati (1-0-1, 4 points) mounted a comeback, with Evander pulling one back in the 72nd minute before delivering the corner that led to a Juárez own goal just five minutes later.

The match ended 2-2, sending it to penalties. After Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano denied Jairo Torres, Evander had a chance to extend the shootout - but Jurado made the decisive save, sealing the win for Juárez, who remained well-positioned to reach the knockout stage.

Sounders blank Santos Laguna 2-0

Georgi Minoungou scored his first goal of the season to help Seattle secure a 2-1 win over Santos Laguna, but his night ended early after an unusual red card.

The forward struck in the 72nd minute, lifting his shirt to reveal a message underneath - a celebration that earned him a second yellow card and an immediate ejection, just seven minutes after coming off the bench. He had already been booked for a foul in the 65th minute.

Seattle (2-0-0, 6 points) had earlier taken the lead through an own goal forced by Paul Rothrock’s dangerous cross. Despite playing with 10 men, they held firm, even after Cristian Dájome pulled one back in stoppage time for Santos Laguna (0-2-0, 0 points), who were eliminated from Leagues Cup contention with the loss.

Club Tijuana beat Rapids 2-1

Ramiro Arciga’s second goal of the Liga MX Apertura helped Tijuana secure a crucial 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, keeping their Leagues Cup hopes alive.

Tijuana (1-1-0, 3 points) struck first in the 39th minute when Jackson Porozo tapped in a rebound after Unai Bilbao’s header hit the post following a corner. Arciga doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, reacting quickly to slot home the rebound from Alejandro Gómez’s shot that was parried by Colorado keeper Zack Steffen.

Just two minutes later, Porozo accidentally redirected the ball into his own net, giving Colorado (1-1-0, 3 points) hope. But despite late pressure from the hosts, Tijuana held firm to claim all three points.