This Monday sees the Leagues Cup 2023 group stage reach its conclusion, with four pools still left to be decided on Matchday 9 of the competition.
Most of the Round of 32 match-ups for this week’s action have already been decided - notably, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF will take on Florida rivals Orlando City SC, while the other side of the bracket will feature a Hudson River Derby between New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.
But there are still several spots up for grabs in the next stage of the continental competition, with four fixtures still to be established. Here’s a rundown of the stake for each team in action tonight, and the results they’ll be needing to go through.
The final match-up in Central 2 sees Club Puebla and Chicago Fire FC face off for a spot in the knockout rounds, with Minnesota United having already confirmed their place in the Round of 32.
It’s the Men in Red who are in the favourable position ahead of the game, having beaten their MLS rivals four days ago thanks to a late winner from Kei Kamara.
The LIGA MX outfit, meanwhile, lost 4-0 in the opening fixture. As a result, only a win in regulation time by three goals would see them go through - any other result is enough for Chicago FIre, although they would drop to second place on goal difference in the event of a loss.
The stakes won’t be as high in tonight’s Central 1 match as in the other games, given both SC Club América and Columbus Crew have both qualified for the next round already.
The two sides have already seen off MLS Western Conference leaders St. Louis CITY, but will nevertheless battle it out for top spot in the group tonight. The first tie-breaker at Leagues Cup is the two teams’ head-to-head record, meaning the match will see a winner-takes-all scenario - whether the result is decided in regulation time or on penalties.
After a frantic 4-3 win over Nashville SC last Thursday, Toluca FC will only need to avoid defeat in regulation time in order to finish as leaders of the Central 4 pool. For their opponents tonight, only a win can potentially lift them off the bottom spot of the group. They’ll either need to win by one goal and score at least three, or claim victory by any two-goal margin. The runner-up of the group will face FC Cincinnati in the next round.
In the last match-up of the Leagues Cup 2023 group stages, Central 3 opponents Chivas de Guadalajara and Sporting Kansas will face off for the final qualification spot. Both teams lost to pool winners FC Cincinnati - a 3-1 loss and a defeat on penalties respectively - and the winner of this tie will finish in second place.
