Columbus Crew Secures Victory Over Inter Miami in Leagues Cup Quarter-Finals
The Columbus Crew has emerged victorious in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals, defeating Inter Miami with a score of 2-0. The match was held at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 10, 2021.
The Crew’s Diego Rossi was the star of the game, scoring two goals in the second half to secure the win for his team. Rossi’s first goal came in the 59th minute, with a powerful shot from outside the box that found the back of the net. His second goal came in the 84th minute, with a well-placed header that left Inter Miami’s goalkeeper with no chance.
The victory was a significant one for the Columbus Crew, as they faced tough competition from Inter Miami, who had been performing well in recent matches. The Crew’s defense was also impressive, keeping a clean sheet and preventing Inter Miami from scoring any goals.
However, the absence of Lionel Messi was felt by the fans, as the superstar did not play due to a right ankle injury. Messi had recently joined Paris Saint-Germain and was expected to make his debut in the Leagues Cup, but his injury prevented him from doing so.
The Leagues Cup is a tournament that features teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX Mexican sides. The quarter-finals saw New York City and Mazatlan also advancing to the next round.
New York City Advances to Leagues Cup Semi-Finals
New York City also secured a spot in the Leagues Cup semi-finals, defeating Pumas UNAM with a score of 4-3 in a thrilling match. The game was held at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on August 10, 2021.
New York City’s Valentin Castellanos was the hero of the game, scoring a hat-trick to help his team secure the win. Castellanos’ first goal came in the 15th minute, with a well-placed shot that found the bottom corner of the net. His second goal came in the 57th minute, with a powerful header that left Pumas UNAM’s goalkeeper with no chance. Castellanos’ third goal came in the 77th minute, with a clinical finish that sealed the victory for New York City.
Pumas UNAM also put up a strong fight, with goals from Juan Dinenno, Facundo Waller, and Gabriel Torres. However, it was not enough to overcome New York City’s impressive performance.
Mazatlan Defeats Club Leon in Leagues Cup Quarter-Finals
Mazatlan also advanced to the Leagues Cup semi-finals, defeating Club Leon with a score of 3-2 in a closely contested match. The game was held at the BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas, on August 11, 2021.
Mazatlan’s Camilo Sanvezzo was the standout player of the game, scoring two goals to help his team secure the win. Sanvezzo’s first goal came in the 22nd minute, with a well-placed shot that found the back of the net. His second goal came in the 57th minute, with a clinical finish that gave Mazatlan the lead.
Club Leon also put up a strong fight, with goals from Victor Davila and Santiago Colombatto. However, Mazatlan’s defense held strong and prevented Club Leon from scoring any more goals.
Conclusion
The Leagues Cup quarter-finals provided some exciting matches, with Columbus Crew, New York City, and Mazatlan emerging as the victors. The semi-finals are set to take place on August 24 and 25, with Columbus Crew facing Cruz Azul and New York City taking on Pumas UNAM. Mazatlan will face the winner of the Club America vs. Tigres UANL match in the other semi-final.
It will be interesting to see which teams will advance to the final and ultimately lift the Leagues Cup trophy. Fans can expect more thrilling matches and standout performances from some of the best players in MLS and Liga MX.