Club América avoided its elimination in the Leagues Cup with a 4-2 victory against St. Louis City SC in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Dignity Health Sports Park Field in Carson, California.
On the brink of an upset defeat, Las Águilas came back in the final minutes of the match to maintain their place in the competition.
Brian Rodríguez placed the back-to-back Liga MX champions in front in the 10th minute with a strike in front of goal on a precise pass from Diego Valdez.
The MLS side tied the encounter to start the second half as Indiana Vassilev capped off a counter attack in the 49th minute. Eduard Löwen provided the timely pass that ended in a left-footed strike to the bottom right corner of goal.
Löwen converted a penalty kick chance in the 55th minute to place St. Louis City in front and strike worry into the Mexican giant.
Diego Valdez broke through with the equalizer in the 79th minute, striking a header inside the box to connect on a cross from Richard Sánchez.
América earned a penalty chance of their own late in the second half as the former MLS striker Rodríguez converted in the 86th minute to secure his brace.
Rodrigo Aguirre iced the result with a fourth goal for Club América eight minutes into stoppage time.
The fifteen-time Liga MX champions survived and are one of two Mexican clubs left in the tournament with Mazatlan FC. Club América will face Colorado Rapids in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
