Tuesday night’s Leagues Cup action saw **Nashville SC** get the better of **CF Monterrey** in their semi-final clash, with a 2-0 victory sealing their spot in the final. The defeat means that the Mexican giants’ seven-game unbeaten run has come to an end, and their winning streak in knockout ties against MLS has also been broken.
In the final four match-up, the hosts dominated proceedings, but had to wait until the 67th minute to break the deadlock through Sam Surridge. Although Rayados made tactical changes in search of an equalizer, they were unable to find a response, and Fafà Picault eventually sealed the result with his team’s second on 96 minutes.
Until this Tuesday, the LIGA MX side had never lost a direct knockout tie against MLS opposition. This summer, they beat Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders in the group stages, and then saw off the Portland Timbers in the round of 32. In the quarter-finals, Fernando Ortiz’s men came back from 2-0 down to beat the reigning MLS Cup champions and CONCACAF Champions Cup finalists, Los Angeles FC.
Tonight’s result means that CF Monterrey have now lost 3 out of 22 meetings against teams from north of the border. Overall, the team has won 17, drawn 2, and lost 3. In those games, Rayados have scored 56 and conceded 20. This Saturday, they will be taking on the Philadelphia Union in the third-place play-off, where a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup will be on the line.
Meanwhile, the final of Leagues Cup 2023 will see Nashville SC take on Inter Miami CF, also on Saturday. Both teams have yet to win silverware, and will be responsible for closing out the summer tournament. Will the Tennessee outfit managed to cause another upset against their rivals from Florida?
