DIEGO ROSSI scored a second-half brace and the host Columbus Crew rallied from two goals down to earn a 3-2 Leagues Cup round-of-16 victory over defending tournament champions Inter Miami on Tuesday night.
Christian Ramirez also scored to begin the reigning MLS Cup champions’ comeback, which was completed in the space of 14 minutes to secure a home quarterfinal against New York City FC on Saturday. The Crew are looking to reach a second major continental final in 2024 after finishing runner-up in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in June.
Diego Gomez assisted the first goal and scored the second for Miami, which played its 11th consecutive competitive fixture without injured star Lionel Messi. Matias Rojas scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give the Herons an early lead.
However, after Mr. Gomez doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute following a slick give-and-go with Luis Suarez, Columbus rapidly turned the match in its favor. Mr. Ramirez headed in Max Arfsten’s cross in the 67th minute and Mr. Rossi finished a neat half-volley from Cucho Hernandez’s looping service two minutes later. Then Mr. Rossi completed his brace with the 80th-minute winner, a low, driven shot set up by Mo Farsi’s cleverly slotted pass.
CLUB AMERICA 4, ST. LOUIS CITY 2
Brian Rodriguez completed his brace with an 86th-minute, go-ahead penalty kick and America rallied to avoid a major upset against St. Louis City in a match played at Carson, Calif.
Diego Valdes headed in America’s equalizer seven minutes earlier, set up by substitute Richard Sanchez’s excellent cross from the right. Valdes had assisted Rodriguez’s first goal in the 15th minute. Rodrigo Aguirre added a very late insurance goal as America sealed a quarterfinal meeting against the Colorado Rapids.
St. Louis took a 2-1 lead early in the second half after Indiana Vassilev leveled in the 49th minute and Eduard Lowen converted from the penalty spot six minutes later. But Club America piled on the pressure to find a deserved leveler, then ensured their progress after St. Louis defender Tomas Totland was rightly cited for handling the ball in his own penalty area.
RAPIDS 2, TOLUCA 1
Darren Yappi scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time in the final late dramatic turn of Colorado’s victory over Toluca at Commerce City, Colorado.
Mr. Yappi poked in a loose ball from very close range — created by a failed attempt to clear Djordje Mihailovic’s low cross — after Mr. Mihailovic had his own apparent game-winner five minutes earlier ruled out via VAR for being offside in the buildup. Rafael Navarro scored late in the first half for the Rapids.
Toluca’s Paulinho leveled the match in the 83rd minute on a stunning backheel finish, using his trailing foot to redirect Jesus Gallardo’s low cross from the left into the bottom right corner. But Toluca could not extend its tournament despite leading Colorado 21-4 in shots and 6-2 in efforts on target. — Reuters
