This Saturday’s games marks the start of the final round of Leagues Cup group stage fixtures, with five groups set to be settled.
As it stands, 7 teams across the competition have already booked their spot in the playoffs, leaving another 25 yet to be decided.
The stakes will be high in every match-up - only one of the teams involved on Saturday night already has a guaranteed spot in the knockout rounds. Here’s a look at the different permutations from each game, and how they can affect the final standings of their respective groups.
Cruz Azul vs. Atlanta United FC
With both of these teams having lost to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF, the final game of the South 3 group will be a direct play-off to reach the knockout stages. In Leagues Cup, if a match finishes in a tie in regulation time, the teams face off in a penalty shoot-out, which sees the winner awarded an extra point. If Cruz Azul and Atlanta United FC are level after 90 minutes, that extra point will be enough to go through in second place.
Santos Laguna vs. Orlando City SC
Houston Dynamo FC currently lead the South 2 group with three points, having beaten Santos Laguna on penalties but lost to Orlando City SC in the shoot-out. On Saturday night, any win for The Lions will put both them and the Texas outfit through to the playoffs. However, an outright win for the LIGA MX side would see them leapfrog everyone to go top of the group.
Should they require a penalty shoot-out to see off the Florida side, all of the South 2 teams will be on three points each. The first tie-breaker at Leagues Cup is head-to-head record - but this will be irrelevant given each side will have beaten a different opponent. This will also be the case for goal difference, since all games will have ended in a draw.
The next criteria is goals scored, and then goals conceded. In this scenario, Orlando City would need to score another two goals to match Houston’s three, while Santos Laguna have found the net twice already. If the teams are still level on the above criteria, the competition will then take into account their fair-play record, taking into account yellow and red cards.
The outcome of the South 2 group will be of particular interest to Inter Miami CF fans, given the winner will be Lionel Messi-led side’s next opponent.
Club Necaxa vs. Charlotte FC
The previous fixtures in South 4 saw FC Dallas lose to Charlotte FC on penalties, before a convincing 3-0 victory over Club Necaxa. For the LIGA MX side, only a win in regulation time against the North Carolina side will be enough to go through on Saturday night. For Charlotte FC, a win either in 90 minutes or on penalties at their Bank of America Stadium home ground will be enough to top the group.
Austin FC vs. FC Juárez
In the South 1 pool, the leaders Mazatlán FC are now beyond reach, having beaten Austin FC on the opening night of the competition before seeing off their LIGA MX rivals on penalties four days later. The stakes in this final group stage match-up are simple: the winner, in regulation time or on penalties, will go through to the play-offs in second place. Whoever comes out on top will face Los Angeles FC in the next round.
Pumas vs. D.C. United
The final clash of the evening will decide the fate of the teams in East 2. After claiming a surprise three points against CF Montréal on Wednesday evening, D.C. United have already sealed their place in the Round of 32.
Only an outright win for Pumas on Saturday can knock them off top spot in the group. The LIGA MX side will be hoping to show the same spirit that saw them clinch a dramatic late draw last Saturday - this time, only a win will do in order to overtake the Quebec side, whether that’s in 90 minutes or on penalties
