Diego Rossi’s two goals in the second half propelled Columbus Crew to a 3-2 victory over reigning champions Inter Miami, securing their spot in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Uruguayan forward equalized for the Crew in the 69th minute and scored the winning goal in the 80th minute, dethroning Miami, who currently lead the MLS standings.
Lionel Messi did not play for Miami as he continues to recover from a right ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa America final victory over Colombia a month ago. With this win, the reigning MLS champion Crew will host New York City in the quarter-finals on Saturday, after City triumphed 2-1 over Tigres.
Inter Miami initially took the lead with Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas scoring in the 10th minute, followed by compatriot Diego Gomez doubling the margin in the 62nd minute.
However, US striker Christian Ramirez brought the Crew back into contention with a goal in the 67th minute, paving the way for Rossi’s decisive brace.
The tournament features teams from MLS and Liga MX, with Messi having led Miami to last year’s inaugural title shortly after joining the team. New York City managed to advance to the last eight after a comeback against Tigres.
Argentine midfielder Guido Pizarro, the Tigres captain, opened the scoring with a header in the 18th minute, but City equalized just two minutes later through fellow Argentine Maxi Moralez. Uruguayan Santiago Rodriguez scored the final goal for City in the 65th minute.
In Cincinnati, Tai Baribo’s two goals helped the Philadelphia Union defeat the hosts 4-2. Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead with goals from Danish forward Mikael Uhre in the 51st minute and Israeli striker Baribo in the 61st.
Czech midfielder Pavel Bucha responded for Cincinnati in the 66th minute, and US defender DeAndre Yedlin equalized for the hosts in the 80th minute. The Union then struck back with goals from Baribo in the 82nd minute and US substitute Quinn Sullivan in the 84th.
Mazatlan Advances
Philadelphia will face Mazatlan in a home quarter-final on Saturday after Mazatlan triumphed over Cruz Azul in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in Washington. Mazatlan took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Bryan Colula in the 40th minute and Panamanian midfielder Edgar Barcenas in the first minute of stoppage time.
Cruz Azul was reduced to ten men early in the second half when Argentine defender Gonzalo Piovi received a red card in the fourth minute. Despite this setback, Cruz Azul fought back, with Uriel Antuna scoring in the 84th minute and Colombian defender Willer Ditta netting the equalizer in the opening moments of stoppage time.
In the penalty shootout, Antuna, Ditta, and Giorgos Giakoumakis all missed their attempts, allowing Mazatlan to win 3-1 and advance.
The Colorado Rapids also moved on with a 2-1 victory over Toluca at home. Brazilian forward Rafael Navarro scored for Colorado in the 45th minute, but Portuguese striker Paulinho equalized in the 83rd minute. American Darren Yapi then secured the win with a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Colorado will now face Mexican champions Club America in a quarter-final on Saturday, after Club America defeated St. Louis 4-2.
Club America’s Brian Rodriguez converted a penalty in the 86th minute, while compatriot Rodrigo Aguirre added another goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Rodriguez had opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but US midfielder Indiana Vassilev equalized for St. Louis in the 49th minute.
German midfielder Eduard Lowen then put the hosts ahead with a penalty kick in the 55th minute, before Chilean striker Diego Valdes equalized for Club America in the 79th minute.
In Los Angeles, LAFC defeated San Jose 4-1, securing a quarter-final matchup against Seattle on Saturday. LAFC took the lead with a goal from Uruguayan striker Cristian Olivera in the 17th minute, but Argentine midfielder Hernan Lopez equalized for the Earthquakes in the 41st minute. Gabon’s Denis Bouanga converted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving LAFC a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Poland’s Mateusz Bogusz added a goal for the hosts in the 61st minute and Bouanga scored again in the 66th for a 4-1 LAFC edge.
All-time French goals leader Olivier Giroud entered in the 71st minute for his LAFC match debut after moving from AC Milan in May.
