Oscar Estupinan scored an 87th-minute equalizer, but FC Juarez fell short of the win they needed to stay alive in the Leagues Cup, losing 5-3 in a shootout against the New York Red Bulls following a 1-1 draw on Matchday 3 of opening-phase play on Thursday in Harrison, N.J.
Estupinan’s second goal of the tournament, coming via a near-post header, gave visiting Juarez (1-0-2, 6 points) brief late hope after Dylan Nealis put the Red Bulls in front in the 47th minute.
However, Juarez needed to win the shootout to finish with seven points and pass Tigres UANL and Pachuca, as the latter two teams wound up with six points. In the tiebreaker, New York goalkeeper AJ Marcucci saved an attempt by Rodolfo Pizarro before the Red Bulls’ Emil Forsberg converted the decisive kick.
The confirmed Liga MX teams advancing to the quarterfinals are, in seeding order, Toluca, Pachuca, Tigres UANL and Puebla.
The Red Bulls (1-0-2, 6 points) were eliminated with the draw as well, as they needed a win by at least four goals to stay alive.
CD Guadalajara 2, FC Cincinnati 1
Ruben Gonzalez punished a defensive giveaway in the 57th minute with the eventual match-winning goal as visiting Guadalajara officially eliminated Cincinnati from contention.
Efrain Alvarez opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Chivas (1-1-1, 5 points), who were already eliminated, after Alan Mozo induced Tah Brian Anunga into a foul inside the penalty area.
Andres Davila Mosquera pulled a goal back in the 67th minute for Cincinnati (1-1-1, 4 points), which needed a victory by at least four goals to remain in contention.
Cincinnati manager Pat Noonan appeared to write off that possibility from the start, fielding a lineup without several regulars, including defenders Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga and DeAndre Yedlin.
Charlotte FC 2, CF Monterrey 0
Bill Tuiloma opened the scoring on a 56th-minute header to help host Charlotte close its tournament campaign with a victory.
Tyger Smalls doubled the lead four minutes later for Charlotte FC (1-1-1, 4 points), who will try to take momentum back into regular-season play. The Crown have won four straight in MLS entering their Sunday league fixture at FC Cincinnati.
David Bingham made four saves to keep the clean sheet after Charlotte FC conceded six times across their first two tournament matches.
Monterrey (0-2-1, 2 points) was shut out for the first time since a 3-0 defeat at Pachuca in both teams’ Liga MX Apertura opener on July 13.
Cruz Azul 2 (5), Rapids 2 (4)
Rafael Navarro scored his third goal of the tournament, but Colorado gave back a two-goal advantage and settled for a shootout defeat hours after the club traded joint team scoring leader Djordje Mihailovic to Toronto FC.
Andreas Maxso also scored for the Rapids (1-1-1, 4 points) in a game between already-eliminated teams played in Carson, Calif.
Willer Ditta’s deflected, 43rd-minute effort answered Maxso within two minutes, and Ignacio Rivero’s volley of Mateusz Bogusz’s cross pulled Cruz Azul (0-1-2, 4 points) level in the 78th minute.
Colorado’s Niko Hansen made 10 saves to force the penalty tiebreaker but couldn’t stop any of Cruz Azul’s PK takers. Kevin Mier saved a shootout attempt by the Rapids’ Oliver Larraz.
–Field Level Media
