Club América 3(8) – 3(7) Minnesota United FC
August 2, 2025
(Photography by Abel Baque)
In a thrilling Leagues Cup showdown, Minnesota United FC battled Mexican powerhouse Club América to a dramatic 3-3 draw before ultimately falling 8-7 in a high-pressure penalty shootout. From the opening whistle, the game was a spectacle of nonstop action and contrasting styles—América’s explosive attacking play ran into Minnesota’s disciplined low-block defense, producing a match that was as intense as it was entertaining. The Loons didn’t just hang with the Liga MX giants—they pushed back hard, turning América’s aggressive press into counterattacking opportunities.
Minnesota struck first through a brilliant sequence that saw Dayne St. Clair spark an attack with quick distribution to Joaquín Pereyra, who threaded a perfect pass to Tani Oluwaseyi. The Canadian forward shrugged off a defender and scored with clinical precision. An unfortunate own goal from Michael Boxall leveled the score shortly after, but Minnesota quickly bounced back through Bongokuhle Hlongwane after another well-worked move involving Pereyra and Oluwaseyi. Minnesota looked more than competitive going into the second half with a deserved 2-1 lead.
América adjusted their tactics after the break and equalized early in the second half, only to find themselves down a man soon after when Igor Lichnovsky received a second yellow card. Minnesota capitalized, reclaiming the lead through Carlos Harvey’s sharp finish from a loose ball at the edge of the box. Despite being a man down, América pushed forward relentlessly and were rewarded with a last-minute equalizer by Sebastián Cáceres, forcing the game into penalties.
The shootout was tense through the first seven rounds, with both teams converting every attempt. The deadlock broke on the eighth round when Luis Malagón saved Nicolás Romero’s shot, securing América’s comeback victory.
Check our photo gallery by Abel Baque below:
About Author
