Club Necaxa took a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders FC to not only avoid elimination but win the West 6 group on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Two first half goals gave Los Rayos the ticket to the knockout stage, but a goal in stoppage time made for a dramatic turn of events in the group. Seattle finished in second place while Minnesota United was eliminated.
Obed Vargas placed the Sounders up in the 8th minute with a strike inside the box to send the ball to the left netting.
The MLS side looked to have extended its lead in the 11th minute, as Pedro de la Vega struck a bending ball from outside the box, before a VAR revision took it back.
The game took another twist as Agustín Palavecino struck a laser from the edge of the penalty arc in the 24th minute, sending the Necaxa fans in Seattle into a roar.
The Liga MX side struck on a counterattack in the 44th minute as Diber Cambindo placed the finishing touch on the breakaway and the lead into halftime.
The result looked as it would hold, which would have given Seattle the group win and Necaxa the knockout round berth as the second place.
Kevin Rosero, who was subbed on in the 90th minute, had another idea. The 25-year-old Colombian pounced on a ball in the box two minutes into stoppage time to send Necaxa to the top of the standings over Seattle.
Necaxa will travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes on August 8 at PayPal Park. Seattle Sounders will host the LA Galaxy at Lumen Field on the same night.
“The team came out from the beginning believing that things could be done, and they overcame it,” said Necaxa head coach Eduardo Fentanes. “Now, we will prepare for the game in San Jose, and we will try to do exactly the same as tonight and continue to advance, which is clearly the objective, and go as far as possible.
“I brought clothes for seven games, let's see if I use them all,” Fentanes added.
