What went down?
Leagues Cup 2024 exploded onto the scene on Friday night with five matches that included all three nations and a night of MLS domination over its LIGA MX rivals.
And we haven't even mentioned the TWENTY-ONE GOALS SCORED!
The tournament kick off featured three four matches with at least three goals scored, one match-deciding penalty-kick shootout, and three players with two-goal nights (Atlanta's Daniel Rios; D.C.'s Jared Stroud; and LAFC's Denis Bouanga).
ORLANDO CITY SC 4, CF MONTRÉAL 1
(INTER&CO Stadium)
Orlando City SC wasted no time in unleashing its fury with a 4-1 victory over CF Montréal to kick off opening night of the 2024 Leagues Cup on Friday at INTER&Co Stadium.
Goals came from Orlando's Dagur Thorhallsson, Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique, and Martin Ojeda; with Montréal's Josef Martínez finishing with a penalty kick conversion.
ATLANTA UNITED 3 (5), D.C. UNITED 3 (6)
(Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
D.C. United kicked off its Leagues Cup 2024 scoring early and often in a six-goal thriller against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday. Both teams were bolstered by two-goal performances — with D.C. United’s Jared Stroud and Atlanta’s Daniel Rios each producing a brace.
PUMAS UNAM 2, AUSTIN FC 3
(Q2 Stadium)
The opening match of this year’s Leagues Cup between Austin FC and Pumas UNAM had everything fans could hope for: goals, a red card, intensity, and an all-around high-drama rivalry on Friday at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
The 2024 tournament’s first showdown between LIGA MX and Major League Soccer was an instant classic, fought with the intensity of a final rather than an opening match.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS 2, MINNESOTA UNITED 0
(Lumen Field)
The Seattle Sounders earned a long-awaited first Leagues Cup victory, a 2-0 win against Minnesota United FC on Friday night at Lumen Field, after going winless in the 2023 edition.
Jordan Morris broke through for the match-winning goal in the 87th minute with a slide in front of goal to connect with a service from Paul Rothrock.
Rothrock sealed the victory with the Sounders’ second in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. The assist came from Morris, who returned the favor to his fellow Sounders Academy alumni.
LAFC 3, CLUB TIJUANA 0
(BMO Stadium)
LAFC talisman Denis Bouanga found a new partner to torture opponents with on Friday night in Los Angeles as his side executed a classic smash-and-grab, 3-0, victory in their Leauges Cup opener against Club Tijuana.
The reigning MLS Golden Boot winner’s main partner in crime this season, Mateusz Bogusz, started the match on the bench for the Black & Gold while Uruguayan winger Cristian “Kike” Olivera happily filled the goalscoring void by repeatedly connecting with Bouanga to ensure three points after recently returning from Copa America.
