Another Inter Miami CF match, another Lionel Messi double. The Argentine maestro once again wasted no time in opening the scoring against Orlando City SC in his team’s Round of 32 clash against their cross-state rivals. After a crafty ball over the top of the defense from the in-form Robert Taylor, the forward was able to finish past Pedro Gallese from close range.
The visitors were level again ten minutes later, though, as César Araújo fired in a low shot past Drake Callender after the Inter Miami shot-stopper had parried a shot into his path. Messi came close to giving his team the lead again on the half hour mark, but was denied by the post.
Orlando City were behind again soon after the break, as Josef Martínez converted the penalty he won himself. Messi would leave the Venezuelan to score the spot-kick, and open his Leagues Cup 2023 account. The World Cup winner would soon find himself on the scoresheet again, though, as Martínez repaid the favor by assisting another volleyed goal for Messi. Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s men now face a trip to take on FC Dallas in the Round of 16.
FC Dallas moved on to the round of 16 after putting FC Mazatlán away, 2-1, in front of its home crowd. The club will now host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in the next round.
After a scoreless first half, FC Dallas started the second frame on the front foot. Bernard Kamungo drew a penalty in the 46th minute, which allowed Alan Velasco to bury his penalty attempt to make it 1-0. But ten minutes later, Mazatlán midfielder Andrés Montaño smacked a shot on his first touch and found the back of the net to make it 1-1. In the 75th minute, man of the match Jesús Ferreira sent a cross toward the far left post and found the head of Eugene Ansah, who banged the header in for the game-winning goal.
Houston Dynamo reached the round of 16 against new Leagues Cup entrants Club Pachuca in a penalty shootout following a tightly contested 0-0 draw. The Mexican side were effective at stopping Houston’s rhythm on the ball, trying to break on transition play with several chances of their own. However, this led to a stalemate between the two sides and a penalty shootout to decide each team’s fate.
Hector Herrera started the game against his former side, and stepped up to tuck away his penalty in the shootout with calm ease. Houston scored all five of their penalties, where Pachura’s Francisco Figueroa saw his tame effort saved by Steve Clark, much to the delight of the Houston faithful at PNC Stadium.
Houston Dynamo will now face the winner of Charlotte FC vs Cruz Azul in the Round of 16.
For their first match at Leagues Cup 2023, Los Angeles FC showed no mercy on FC Juárez, breezing through to the Round of 16 with a devastating 7-1 win.
The LIGA MX side were able to hold out until the half-hour mark, when Ryan Hollingshead inadvertently deflected in a shot from teammate Kellyn Acosta. Then, the floodgates were opened: Carlos Vela doubled the lead just minutes afterwards with a fantastic effort that looped over the goalkeeper.
FC Juárez would pull one back just after the break through Amaury Escoto, but their hope was short-lived. Vela would add a second to his account, before free-scoring Denis Bouanga fired in a hat-trick in the space of 26 minutes.
With the result already settled, 19-year-old Nathan Ordaz then added the seventh, scoring his first senior goal. In the Round of 16, the MLS Cup holders will take on the winner of the clash between Club León and Real Salt Lake.
