Messi, Argentina win second straight Copa America final
USA TODAY Sports’ Safid Deen recaps the Copa America final where Argentina defeated Colombia for their second-straight title in this tournament.
Eight Major League Soccer teams were in action as the Leagues Cup tournament began with five games on Friday night.
The Leagues Cup is a midseason tournament featuring teams from MLS and LIGA MX in Mexico. In all, 47 total teams will play 77 matches in a World Cup-style tournament. The championship match will be played on Aug. 25.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami won the first Leagues Cup last year, but Messi won’t be in action when the club begins its title defense Saturday.
Here are highlights from the five Leagues Cup matches on Friday night:
∎ D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 3 (D.C. United won penalty shootout, 6-5)
∎ Orlando City 4, CF Montreal 1
∎ Austin FC 3, Pumas 2
∎ Seattle Sounders 2, Minnesota United FC 0
∎ Los Angeles FC 3, Club Tijuana 0
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LAFC cruised to an easy 3-0 win over Club Tijuana behind two goals from Cristian Olivera and another from 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga.
Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock got Seattle off on the right foot in Leagues Cup play with goals against Minnesota.
Despite having a player red-carded off the field during the first half, Austin FC pulled off a 3-2 win over Liga MX club Pumas.
Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland preserved the win with a save on a penalty kick in second half stoppage time.
D.C. United prevailed in a sudden-death penalty shootout against Atlanta United.
Dagur Thorhallsson, Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique and Martin Ojeda each scored goals for Orlando City as it cruised to a 4-1 win over CF Montréal.
Cristian Olivera scored his second goal of the night, giving LAFC a comfortable 3-0 lead over a seemingly overmatched Club Tijuana at BMO Stadium.
There were no goals for 86 minutes, then two in the final minutes of the match.
Paul Rothrock scored a left boot in stoppage time, and Seattle beats Minnesota 2-0.
Jordan Morris scored in the 87th minute for Seattle for the first goal in the match against 10-man Minnesota.
Denis Bouanga has found the back of the net, taking a cross by Cristian Olivera to score in the 43rd minute for LAFC’s 2-0 lead against Club Tijuana.
Cristian Olivera chipped in a cross from Denis Bouanga in the 9th minute, and LAFC has an early 1-0 lead against Club Tijuana.
Austin FC goalie Stefan Cleveland with the play of the match, his penalty save against Pumas’ Guillermo Martinez during stoppage time to help his side maintain its 3-2 lead.
Guillermo Martinez goal helps Pumas cut deficit 3-2 vs. Austin FC
Guillermo Martinez scored in the 72nd minute for Pumas, but they still trail 3-2 to Austin FC.
Sebastián Driussi scores in the 55th minute, and Austin FC’s lead is 3-1 over Pumas in the second half.
D.C. United wins after a 6-5 edge in penalty shootout to beat Atlanta. Atlanta United’s Bartosz Slisz missed the final shot in the penalty round, after missing a penalty kick earlier in the match against D.C. United goalie Alex Bono.
Daniel Ríos scored in the 81st minute, and Atlanta United is tied 3-3 with D.C. United late in the second half.
Gyasi Zardes has scored in the 45th minute to help Austin FC take a 2-0 lead over Pumas. Austin FC is playing with 10 min after Osman Bukari’s ejection in the 34th minute.
Josef Martínez’s left boot was impressive and gets Montreal on the board in the 69th minute. But they trail 4-1 to Orlando City. The Orlando City SC vs. CF Montreal match live stream is on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Martin Ojeda’s goal in the 57th minute has extended Orlando City’s lead to 4-0 over Montreal.
Austin FC’s Alex Ring has scored in the 8th minute to take a 1-0 lead over Pumas in the opening minutes. The match is on FS1, Apple TV, UniMas and TV Azteca.
Orlando City’s roll continues just before halftime as Ramiro Enrique’s goal gives them a 3-0 lead against Montreal.
Saba Lobjanidze scored in the 38th minute, and Atlanta United is down 3-2 to D.C. United in an entertaining first half. The Atlanta United vs. DC United is available for free live stream on Apple TV.
Facundo Torres scored in the 40th minute to double Orlando City’s lead against Montreal.
Jared Stroud has scored his second goal of the game in the 31st minute to give D.C. United a 3-1 lead over Atlanta in their Leagues Cup match.
The goals are plenty in Atlanta: Jared Stroud has scored in the 25th minute and D.C. United has a 2-1 lead.
Atlanta United with a quick response, a header by Daniel Ríos in the 20th minute to tie this match against D.C. United at 1.
Dagur Thorhallsson has scored a goal in the 7th minute to give Orlando City an early 1-0 lead over Montreal. The Orlando City SC vs. CF Montreal match live stream is on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Christian Benteke, the second-leading scorer in MLS this season, has D.C. United on the board with an early goal in the fourth minute to give his side a 1-0 lead over Atlanta. The goal was allowed after official review.
The Pumas vs. Austin FC match begins at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast in English on FS1, with a free live stream on Apple TV. The game will also be available in Spanish on UniMas and TV Azteca.
The Seattle Sounders FC vs. Minnesota United FC match begins at 10 p.m. ET with a live stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The Los Angeles Football Club vs. Club Tijuana match begins at 11 p.m. ET with a live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Leagues Cup dates to remember
Here are the key schedule dates for the Leagues Cup:
- Group Stage: July 26-August 6
- Round of 32: August 7-9
- Round of 16: August 12-13
- Quarterfinals: August 16-17
- Semifinals: August 20 or 21
- Final and third-place match: August 25