It looked as if the match was heading towards a penalty shootout, after Santos Laguna had levelled up on two occasions to make the score 2-2 in the second half. McGuire had opened the scoring with a powerful header, whilst Mauricio Pereyra had scored a long range effort to put the MLS side back ahead in the game.
However, it was Peruvian midfielder Wilder Cartagena who latched onto the end of a low cross into the box and provided the vital touch to win and progress to the knockout stage of Leagues Cup 2023.
For the Peruvian, it is his first goal for Orlando City, having made 19 appearances previously in all competitions. The 28-year-old is currently on loan from UAE side Ittihad Kalba.
So who awaits Cartagena in the Leagues Cup 2023 knockouts? None other than the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, in a Florida derby against Inter Miami CF.
"It's going to be a nice challenge for us, although they will have some anger because of the last derby we won at home," said the Peruvian midfielder in a conversation with César Vivar.
"They have brought in good players, like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and I think some other names as well, so it's going to be a great match. But we have a good team, very united, we are a happy family, and we are prepared. We have in mind what we want, and we will fight for it," he concluded.
