Leagues Cup Drama: Club América Stuns Minnesota in 8-Round Shootout, Inter Miami and Orlando City Also Star in Night of Surprises
The 2025 Leagues Cup delivered high drama once again as Club América, Inter Miami, and Orlando City all featured in thrilling clashes that saw red cards, last-gasp equalizers, and nerve-wracking penalty shootouts. Here’s a breakdown of the standout matches from a wild night of football action:
Club América Edges Minnesota United in Marathon Shootout After Late Equalizer
Final Score: Club América 3 (8) – 3 (7) Minnesota United
Penalties: América ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅ | Minnesota ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌
Sent Off: Igor Lichnovsky (América) – 62′
Scorers:
- Minnesota United: Oluwaseyi (16’), Hlongwane (31’), Harvey (65’)
- Club América: Boxall (OG 27’), Zúñiga (53’), Cáceres (90’)
In what turned into an instant Leagues Cup classic, Minnesota United saw victory slip from their grasp after a stunning late header from Club América’s Sebastián Cáceres sent the match to penalties—where the Mexican giants held their nerve to triumph in an eighth-round shootout.
Minnesota came out firing with Canadian forward Tani Oluwaseyi bulldozing his way into the box to give the Loons a dream start in the 16th minute. But América equalized in unfortunate fashion after a Michael Boxall own goal.
Just minutes later, Bongokuhle Hlongwane restored the Loons’ advantage, slotting home in the 31st minute. However, Club América responded again in the second half through Raúl Zúñiga, whose smart header brought the game level at 2-2.
The match tilted in Minnesota’s favor when América’s Igor Lichnovsky was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second yellow after bringing down the ever-dangerous Oluwaseyi. The Loons capitalized quickly, as Carlos Harvey hammered in what looked like a winning goal.
But it wasn’t over yet.
With América down to ten men, Cáceres rose highest in stoppage time to nod home a stunning equalizer. That goal sent the tie into a penalty shootout, where América was perfect from the spot, converting all eight kicks. Minnesota blinked in the eighth round, and the Loons were left heartbroken despite a valiant effort.
Inter Miami Survives Messi Injury Scare, Wins Shootout Over Necaxa
Final Score: Inter Miami 2 (5) – 2 (4) Necaxa
Penalties: Inter Miami ✅✅✅✅✅ | Necaxa ✅✅❌✅✅
Sent Off:
- Falcón (Inter Miami) – 17’
- Calderón (Necaxa) – 59’
Scorers: - Inter Miami: Segovia (12’), Alba (90+2’)
- Necaxa: Badaloni (33’), Monreal (81’)
Lionel Messi’s early exit due to injury sent shockwaves through Inter Miami fans just ten minutes into the match, but the Herons proved they can battle without their talisman.
Telasco Segovia stepped up in Messi’s absence with a beautifully curled long-range strike in the 12th minute to put Miami ahead. However, a red card to Maximiliano Falcón just minutes later forced them to play the rest of the match a man down.
Necaxa, who pressed hard with the man advantage, found their equalizer in the 33rd minute thanks to Tomás Badaloni. But balance was restored when Cristian Calderón was dismissed for a second yellow in the second half.
The back-and-forth continued. In the 81st minute, Ricardo Monreal gave Necaxa the lead with a composed finish, but Jordi Alba had other plans. The former Barcelona man headed in a dramatic injury-time equalizer to send the match to penalties.
In the shootout, Inter Miami was flawless, converting all five kicks to stay unbeaten in the group phase.
Ojeda Inspires Orlando City to Crucial Win Over Atlas
Final Score: Orlando City 3 – 1 Atlas
Sent Off: Cóccaro (Atlas) – 90+7’
Scorers:
- Orlando City: Angulo (10’), Ojeda (57’), Pašalić (90+12’)
- Atlas: Cóccaro (49’)
In a spirited performance in front of their home fans at Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando City secured a vital three points by dispatching Atlas 3-1.
Iván Angulo opened the scoring early for the Lions, breaking his goal drought with a clean finish in the 10th minute. Matías Cóccaro pulled one back for Atlas shortly after the break with a sharp header, but Orlando wasn’t done.
Martín Ojeda, one of the stars of this Leagues Cup campaign, fired Orlando back in front with a thumping effort in the 57th minute.
Tempers flared late as Cóccaro was sent off deep in stoppage time, and Marco Pašalić capitalized moments later, sealing the win with a rocket into the top corner in the 12th minute of added time.
