The Leagues Cup is down to the final eight teams and the trophy is slowly coming into sight for the remaining sides. Let’s take a look at how the quarter-final clashes might shape out.
Seattle Sounders vs LAFC
It’s a clash of Western Conference titans in the Pacific Northwest Saturday evening, and while the two teams are leagues apart in the MLS standings, this may be a tighter-run matchup than we all may expect.
LAFC have remained doing LAFC things during the competition this summer, comfortably dispatching San Jose in the round-of-16 on a night Olivier Giroud made his debut in Black and Gold. His addition could spell even more trouble for any foes going forward.
Meanwhile, Seattle have used the Leagues Cup as an antidote to their frustrating MLS campaign. While they sit in a lowly seventh, a last-16 win against Liga MX outfit Pumas reminded us all that any Sounders side lead by Brian Schmetzer is a force to be reckoned with in a knockout competition.
The form-books point to LAFC edging this one, but you simply can’t count out Seattle under the lights at Lumen.
Columbus Crew vs NYCFC
The Crew are looking simply terrifying at the moment. Few obstacles have slowed the progress of the MLS Cup champs, not even finding themselves 2-0 down to tournament holders Inter Miami with just 20 minutes remaining earlier this week.
NYCFC, on the other hand, are fresh off the back of a famous win of their own, delivering a late sucker-punch to Liga MX giants Tigres in the round-of-16 thanks to the red-hot form of Santi RodrÃguez in front of goal.
While NYCFC have discovered a recipe for success in the tournament this summer, you just can’t ignore the potentially historic heights that Columbus seem destined to hit at the moment.
Philadelphia Union vs Mazatlán
It may not be the sexiest matchup on paper, but Philadelphia’s showdown with Mazatlán could provide some fireworks.
After easing past Montréal in the round-of-32, the Union made a real statement when they put four past FC Cincinnati, in Cincinnati to boot. Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre have formed a tidy little partnership up top, and are giving opposition defenses plenty to worry about.
Mazatlán, however, are one of only two clubs flying the flag for Mexico in the last-eight, but after stunning Cruz Azul in the round-of-16, we could be seeing a Cinderella story unfold before our very eyes.
Club América vs Colorado Rapids
Last, but certainly not least, is the high-octane clash in Los Angeles between América and Colorado.
The Liga MX giants escaped a scare in the last-16, finding themselves a goal down to St. Louis City in the dying embers of the match before three late goals provided a dramatic turnaround. André Jardine’s side look the most likely challenge the mighty Columbus Crew, but they will have to get past Colorado first.
The Rapids have relied on the dramatics so far in the Leagues Cup, winning all of their games by a one-goal margin or on penalties except for a group stage thumping at the hands of Portland.
The trick for the MLS outfit will be keeping the game close, but if América snag an early lead it could be curtains.
Source Agencies
