CARSON — The match had all of the sights and sounds and energy of a Liga MX clash in Mexico.
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On Wednesday night, Liga MX foes CF Monterrey and Club America squared off hundreds of miles from their respective home venues, playing a Leagues Cup semifinal at Dignity Health Sports Park. After a frenetic-paced 90 minutes, the game had to be decided in a penalty kick shootout.
Monterrey converted all five of its attempts to emerge with a 5-4 shootout win and a spot in Sunday’s tournament final against Toluca.
The shootout was even after the first three rounds. In the fourth, America’s Alan Cervantes, who scored a second-half wondergoal, skied his attempt. Monterrey took a 4-3 lead on its next attempt as Jesus Manuel Corona converted from the spot.
In the fifth round, Hugo Cuypers calmly stepped up and converted the decisive shot to send Monterrey to the final.
The only thing the game lacked in the first half of regulation was goals, but the first 20 minutes of the second half made up for that.
The second half got off to a wild start in the 49th minute, as the outnumbered Monterrey supporters finally had reason to scream on Diego Rossi’s goal, which might have been intended as a cross before it fell into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
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In the 58th minute, off a corner kick, Ramón Juárez found the ball at his feet and slipped it just inside the near post to make it 1-1. Six minutes later, Alan Cervantes gave America a 2-1 lead with a long-distance shot that eluded Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada’s hands and settled inside the netting.
In the 67th minute, Monterrey drew a penalty and Lucas Ocampos converted to knot the score again at 2-2.
The Liga MX standings showed the teams at different marks in the early stages of the season. America is in first place after six games, while Monterrey sits in ninth place.
The teams will meet again in league play on Oct. 10.
Monterrey defeated the Chicago Fire, 2-1, in a semifinal last week. America shut out the Columbus Crew, 2-0, also in Carson.
In Wednesday’s other semifinal, played in Houston, Toluca defeated Club Leon, 2-0, to secure its spot in the final. Federico Pereira scored in the first half and Federico Viñas scored in the second half for Toluca. Bruno Mendez picked up two yellow cards and will miss the Leagues Cup final.
Leon will face America in the third-place game on Sunday.
The times and location for the final two games will be announced on Thursday.
The top three finishers will receive spots in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, a 27-team event that will be played from February-June.
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