Following Lionel Messi's debut for Inter Miami on Friday, this East 4 group stage match kicked off the second day of Leagues Cup 2023 action and saw the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution play out a goalless draw after 90 minutes.
Although the Revs have had a better start to the season, as they sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference, during the first 45 minutes they conceded the most clear-cut chances and their goalkeeper, Djordje Petrović, was called upon on several occasions.
During the first minutes of the second half, the dynamic did not change. It was not until the 67th minute that the first big chances came for the Revs, with Gustavo Bou getting more involved in attack. After 71 minutes, the match was end-to-end, but neither side was able to break the 0-0 scoreline and it eventually went to a penalty shootout.
After equalising the match in regular time, each side shared a point and New York Red Bulls took an extra point from the penalty shoot-out with a 3-2 win.
CF Montréal's bell was tolling, and it wasn’t to be good news for Pumas. The home team were comfortable in the first 45 minutes of the match, in which they managed to take a 2-0 lead. But in the second half, coach Turco Mohamed adjusted his tactics, and Pumas managed to tie the game in the final moments to take the match to penalties.
The Universitarios were unable to go all the way though, and faltered in the shootout. The home team came out on top and claimed their first Leagues Cup 2023 success with a 4-2 win on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Both teams arrived with a thirst for victory, and it showed on the field in a hotly-contested clash.
Philadelphia Union and Club Tijuana gave us a thrilling match full of what we love most: goals. It was the MLS side that managed to expose the defensive weaknesses of the Mexican team.
The home team's goals were scored by Dániel Gazdag, along with a brace from Julián Carranza. The Xolos’ goal came from Carlos González, who could have scored a brace, but he missed from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute.
The match was marked by two controversial red cards for the border club.
In the first match of the West 2 group of this year’s Leagues Cup, Real Salt Lake beat Seattle Sounders FC 3-0, with goals from Jefferson Savarino, Cristian Arango and Rubio Rubín.
It was expected to be one of the games of the day, as both teams are currently fighting at the top of the MLS Western Conference table. But in the first half neither were able to take the advantage. The Claret & Cobalt tried: they had 63% possession and four shots on goal.
At the start of the second half, in the 47th minute, Jefferson Savarino put his side ahead following a counter-attacking move. Just 180 seconds later, Cristian Arango doubled the lead, and on the 88th Rubín settled the match. Real Salt Lake now have one foot in the knockout stages of this year’s Leagues Cup.
Portland Timbers won 2-0 against San Jose Earthquakes in the first match of the West 1 group at Leagues Cup 2023.
The clash between the two Major League Soccer sides saw the scoring opened 33 minutes into the first half through Evander's stunning strike from outside the box.
Although San Jose deserved the equalizer in the first half, their forwards’ lack of clinical finishing was decisive as they were down heading into the break.
In the second half, the tone of the game was similar. The California team were chasing the game and Portland effectively sealed the result when, in the 86th minute, Chilean Felipe Mora appeared with a perfect finish past opposition goalkeeper Daniel.
The Timbers earned their first three points of the group, and in the next match they will face Club Tigres, while San José will be playing the Mexican side in a week’s time.
