The Philadelphia Union were moments away from heading into penalty kicks against Leagues Cup 2023 Cinderella Querétaro, but a Chris Donovan goal in the 101st minute sent los Gallos Blancos packing and the Union into the semifinals. Philadelphia’s Jsús Bueno opened the match’s scoring with his first goal with the club in the 10th minute.
The tournament darlings fought hard to force the match into penalty kicks against the favored hosts. In the 65th minute, los Gallos Blancos pushed up field and created a turnover in the attacking third. The ball was laid off to Jamie Gómez, who sent a cross into the box and found the left foot of Ángel Sepúlveda. The forward beat Andre Blake to make it 1-1. But the club couldn’t do enough to hold on to the draw.
Inter Miami came out on top against Charlotte FC with a 4-0 win on Friday night to secure their spot in the Leagues Cup 2023 semi-finals. The Florida outfit dominated proceedings to start with, and opened the scoring after just ten minutes. It was Josef Martínez who converted from the spot after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Dixon Arroyo.
Robert Taylor then doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, from an assist by DeAndre Yedlin. Not only were they dominating the match-up and possession of the ball, but they were also clear on the scoreline. Inter Miami made it three after an attack led by Lionel Messi ended in an own goal from Adilson Malanda after a cross into the penalty area.
In the 86th minute, Messi himself added a fourth to go clear at the top of the Leagues Cup scoring charts. Inter Miami are now through to the next stage of the knockouts and will take on the Philadelphia Union, who saw off Club Querétaro on Friday night.
Nashville SC left no room for doubt in their quarter-final clash against Minnesota FC, as they took full advantage of their numerical advantage by putting five goals past their visitors.
The MLS Western Conference side were down to ten men after half an hour as DJ Taylor was given his marching orders after a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The next thirty minutes saw Nashville put the game well beyond reach, with five different players finding the back of the net.
Shaquell Moore and Teal Bunbury first converted from close range before the break, before Alex Muyl headed in a third after half-time. Sam Surridge then scored a second in as many games for his new club, before star player Hany Mukhtar added a fifth shortly afterwards.
The Tennessee outfit now move on to the last four, where they will face LIGA MX giants CF Monterrey, who came back from behind to beat Los Angeles FC on Friday night. They are also one win away from a first-ever campaign in the CONCACAF Champions Cup next year.
It appeared no LIGA MX clubs would reach the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals when CF Monterrey went down two goals Los Angeles Football Club. But Tano Ortiz’s squad represented the league well in a thrilling 3-2 win over LAFC.
LAFC went into the half up 2-0 over CF Monterrey with goals from Dénis Bouanga (2nd minutes) and Mateusz Bogusz (42nd minute). But, in the second half, Rayados made a furious comeback with three unanswered goals from Sergio Canales (68th minute), a Sergi Palencia own goal (80th minute) and Funes Mori (88th minute).
Monterrey’s win set the final four clubs in the semifinals. Rayados will travel to Nashville SC. Inter Miami CF will travel to the Philadelphia Union.
