Oh what a difference a year makes.
In 2025, the Leagues Cup semi-finals was an all-MLS affair, the U.S. based clubs knocking out the Liga MX competition during some tight quarterfinal matches. The 2024 competition saw the same.
Fast-forward to this week, and the quarterfinal matches looked like they were played against the soundtracks of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, or the screeching violins of Psycho. It’s the first time in Leagues Cup history that all four semi-finalists are from Liga MX.
I can’t say I’m surprised. Most pundits were shocked at the four MLS teams who advanced. In terms of Supporters Shield standings, Chicago Fire are the highest placed team in 8th. Real Salt Lake is 13th, Austin FC is 25th and Columbus Crew second from last in 29th. Compare this to the four Liga MX sides, who sit in 1st (América), 3rd (Toluca), 7th (Monterrey) and 8th (León). Despite having to play in the United States (though three of the matches were staged in neutral venues), the Mexican clubs proved their quality.
Monterrey 2 – 1 Chicago Fire
This was the “jump-scare” match. Chicago came out on, well, fire. Anton Salétros had the perfect chance to put Chicago up when his run was fed by a perfect through-ball by Zinkernagel, but Rayados keeper Esteban Andrada made a huge save to push his shot wide. Kudos to referee Rubiel Vasquez for playing the advantage. But Monterrey slowly seized control, ratcheting up the pressure on the Chicago defense. A 40th minute penalty should’ve given them the lead, but captain Lucas Ocampos struck the left post. Monterrey eventually got their goal deep into first half stoppage when Víctor Gúzman’s met Gerardo Arteaga’s perfect dead ball cross to head the ball home.
Andrew Gutman was Chicago’s standout player in the second half. A number of his crosses carved through Monterrey’s lines, and Zinkernagel lasered one into the corner to even the scales. Fire was dominating the match, but unable to break through for the game winner. Ultimately, Orbelín Pineda put the game to bed with a stunner of a volley into the top left netting. A pure golazo. A dagger to Chicago, who got pinned to the wall like Lynda’s boyfriend Bob in John Carpenter’s Halloween.
León 3 – 0 Real Salt Lake
There’s not much to say on this one. Real Salt Lake didn’t play as poorly as the scoreline would suggest, León were simply ruthless and clinical when it came to their chances. They had three and scored on every one. Díber Cambindo was particularly relentless in the first half with four shots, one of which scored. He also set up two other chances. If he wore a hockey mask like Jason Voorhees I would not have been surprised by his persistence and physicality. He scored a second goal and drew a yellow card in the second half.
Toluca 2 – 0 Austin FC
This was a straight-up slasher flick, and poor Austin played all the unwitting victims. Frankly, the Green & Black were lucky the scoreline didn’t read 4 or 5 to Toluca’s favor. Diablos Rojos got off on the front foot and fully owned Austin in every category. Austin was slowly climbing back into the match when Joseph Rosales got a straight red for a nasty studs-up challenge (after VAR review) in the 40th minute. Defeat loomed after that, but it became inevitable after Helinho scored from the spot in the 53rd minute. Credit goalkeeper Brad Stuver for doing his best Boromir impersonation in the second half, gamely making save after save trying to protect his net, only to eventually fall as Jorge Díaz’s 97th minute shot delivered the killing blow.
América 2 – 0 Columbus Crew
This one was more psychological thriller than horror flick, the type of match you look at and ask yourself “how in the hell did América win this?” The easy answer is: Rodolfo Cota. The 39 year-old veteran, between the sticks as starting keeper Luis Malagón recovers from an ACL injury, played out of his skin. His diving save to parry a penalty kick sucker punched the Crew, then he went and stopped another seven shots to keep a clean sheet. But credit Columbus for never slacking off or giving up. They dominated possession (62%), corners (10 to 2) and created five big chances. They gave a good accounting of themselves, playing better than their MLS position would indicate.
League Cup Semifinals
We know who will compete in the semifinals next week, but not the dates or venues. We can confirm it will occur somewhere in the United States, and on Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 2. And it will feature:
América vs. Monterrey
Toluca vs. León
