Club Querétaro, the surprise of Leagues Cup 2023, is into the quarterfinals

Club Querétaro advanced to the Leagues Cup 2023 quarterfinals Monday night. They beat New England Revolution 4-3 on penalties, after drawing 1-1 in regulation, and is one of the surprises of the tournament.

Although the LIGA MX side doesn’t dazzle with its play or with a barrage of goals, it has an efficient tactical approach. The team didn’t come into the tournament as a favorite. They finished last in the 2022 LIGA MX Apertura and then tenth in the 2023 Clausura.

Then, in their Leagues Cup 2023 debut, they were thrashed 5-1 by the Philadelphia Union, putting themselves into a difficult hole to get out of.

But in their second match, they took down Club Tijuana 1-0, with a goal from Uruguayan Emanuel Gularte, and qualified in second place in Group East 1. That paired them up with another LIGA MX side, Pumas.

The match with Pumas took place at Audi Field in Washington DC and Club Querétaro won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ángel Sepúlveda in the 74th minute. The win put them through to the round of 16.

Against the New England Revolution in the round of 16, played at Gillette Stadium, Club Querétaro opened the scoring with a header from Jaime Gómez in the first play of the second half. New England’s Esmir Bajraktarevic equalized with an impressive goal from the top of the penalty area, which sent the match to penalties..

Fernando Tapia, Club Querétaro 's goalkeeper, was responsible for saving the fourth and fifth penalties, kicked by New England’s Nacho Gil and Ian Andrew Harkes, respectively.

Club Querétaro’s run is surprising, but it’s no longer crazy to think they could lift the trophy on the final day of Leagues Cup 2023. Can they do it?