It's no surprise there no penalty shootouts on this fateful night of action at Leagues Cup. It seems teams understood the importance of earning three points instead of one or two, and it showed in the tense action on display.
Toluca got the night started with a win in New York, and then shortly thereafter became the first (and only team tonight) to clinch a spot in Quarterfinals. Columbus got a huge win over León to place themselves on the verge of advancement, but they are not in control of their own destiny as they can still be leaped by numerous MLS teams yet to play their third match.
A star-studded affair capped the night, as Tigres entered play with an opportunity to clinch a Quarterfinal spot with a win over LAFC but couldn't take advantage, as it was Steve Cherundolo's side that kept their hopes alive thanks a brilliant performance from 19-year-old midfielder David Martínez.
TOLUCA FC 2, NEW YORK CITY FC 1
Toluca FC showed exactly why they’re the reigning Liga MX champions, coming from behind to eliminate New York City FC with a 2-1 win and close out Phase One of the Leagues Cup undefeated.
With eight points collected, the Choriceros have assured passage into the Quarterfinals of Leagues Cup 2025, they will now wait to see which other seven teams will join them.
COLUMBUS CREW 1, CLUB LEÓN 0
In a match where the Columbus Crew needed three points — and ideally a flurry of goals — to secure top spot in their Leagues Cup group, Wilfried Nancy’s side got half the job done. The reigning champions claimed a tight 1-0 victory over Club León but may come to regret not finding more goals.
Columbus held on for the clean sheet and now sit atop their group with seven points and a +3 goal differential. But their spot in the knockout rounds isn’t guaranteed. Other teams still in action could surpass the Crew if they win by larger margins in their final matches. Even clubs currently behind Columbus could leapfrog them with emphatic results.
CLUB PUEBLA 2, MONTRÉAL CF 1
Puebla moved one step closer to qualifying for the Leagues Cup Knockout Stage with a hard-fought 2-1 win over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo. With the victory, La Franja temporarily sits in the top four of the Liga MX standings in the tournament.
Puebla now waits anxiously for results from the remaining Phase One matches. With six points on the board, La Franja needs help to retain their current standing and move on to the Knockout Stage of Leagues Cup 2025.
CF PACHUCA 2, HOUSTON DYNAMO 1
Pachuca secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo to close out their Phase One campaign in Leagues Cup 2025, thanks to a second-half strike from newcomer Santiago Togni. The result places the Tuzos in a favorable position to qualify for the Knockout Stage, pending results across the final slate of matches.
For now, the Tuzos have done their part. And with Togni’s timely arrival and immediate impact, they may have found a new difference-maker heading into the business end of the tournament.
SAN DIEGO FC 2, MAZATLÁN FC 0
In a surprising result, San Diego FC closed out their first-ever Leagues Cup appearance with a statement 2-0 victory over Mazatlán FC at Snapdragon Stadium—earning their first ever win in Leagues Cup while simultaneously eliminating the Liga MX side from the tournament.
Mazatlán entered the day with five points and a win would have tied them with Toluca for the top of the Liga MX standings, but sadly their underdog run comes to an end.
LOS ANGELES FC 2, TIGRES UANL 1
LAFC kept their Leagues Cup 2025 hopes alive with a crucial 2-1 win over Tigres on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium, climbing into the fourth and final advancement spot in the MLS Phase One standings.
On the other end, Tigres could not take advantage of an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Knockout Stage and will now have to wait for help. They sit in third place of the Liga MX standing with six points and a +3 goal differential.
