MLS Crew cruise into Leagues Cup showdown with Inter Miami / Photo: Jason Mowry - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
MLS Crew cruise into Leagues Cup showdown with Inter Miami
Diego Rossi scored two goals to spark the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew over Sporting Kansas City 4-0 on Friday and into a Leagues Cup showdown against Inter Miami.
The Crew, as 2023 league winners, had a bye into the knockout rounds of the event, which features MLS and Liga MX Mexican sides in a World Cup-style tournament.
Uruguayan forward Rossi scored in the 44th and 57th minutes to give the Crew a 2-0 edge. US defender DeJuan Jones added a goal in the 77th and French midfielder Dylan Chambost netted a final goal in the 79th minute.
The Crew will play at home in the round of 16 on Tuesday against defending Cup champion Inter Miami, who ousted Toronto on Thursday to advance.
Mazatlan eliminated 10-man host DC United 2-1 to book a last-16 date against Cruz Azul, which beat Orlando City 5-4 on penalty kicks after a goalless draw.
A red card on US midfielder Jared Stroud in the 27th minute left DC United a man down and Mazatlan took advantage, with goals from Panama's Yoel Barcenas in the 34th minute and Mexico's Brian Rubio in the 43rd.
Poland's Mateusz Klich answered for United in the 74th minute but the MLS side couldn't find an equalizer.
After playing to a 1-1 draw at New England, New York City won 7-6 on penalties to reach a last-16 matchup against Liga MX's Tigres on Tuesday.
New York's Santiago Rodriguez scored on a penalty kick in the 35th minute but Bobby Wood answered in the 40th for the Revolution.
FC Cincinnati also advanced thanks to penalties, defeating Santos Laguna 6-5 after playing to a 1-1 draw.
Honduran striker Anthony Lozano gave Santos Laguna the lead in the fifth minute but Argentine forward Luca Orellano equalized for Cincinnati in the 11th.
Next in Cincinnati's path will be a home match Tuesday against the Philadelphia Union, who blanked visiting Montreal 2-0.
Israeli striker Tai Baribo put the Union ahead 1-0 in the first minute of first half stoppage time and netted a clincher six minutes into second half stoppage time to see Philadelphia through.
- St. Louis advances -
St. Louis City advanced by eliminating Portland 3-1 after a scoreless first half.
German striker Cedric Teuchert opened the scoring in the 51st minute for St. Louis but the Timbers answered in the 54th thanks to Argentine defender Claudio Bravo.
St. Louis took a 2-1 lead on German midfielder Marcel Hartel's goal in the 83rd minute and American Simon Becher added an insurance tally in the 88th.
Also moving into the round of 16 was Toluca, which got an equalizer from Mexico's Edgar Lopez in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time for a 2-2 draw before winning 5-4 on penalties over the Houston Dynamo.
Visiting Toluca opened the scoring on Jesus Angulo's goal in the 39th minute but Ezequiel Ponce answered for Houston in the 41st.
Brazilian striker Micael put the Dynamo ahead in the 62nd minute but Lopez's equalizer at the death set the stage for the Mexican side to advance on penalties.
The round of 16 will be played on Monday and Tuesday, with other matches including Pumas at Seattle on Monday and San Jose at Los Angeles FC on Tuesday.
L.Ross--EWJ
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