Concacaf Champions Cup: Crew held by Tigres, América routs Revs

The opposite remaining MLS-Liga MX collection kicks off on Wednesday when Lionel Messi's Inter Miami hosts CF Monterrey (kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports activities app).

Listed below are three fast ideas on Tuesday's video games.

Crew cannot discover the winner

Even with out Colombian worldwide and essential headliner Cucho Hernandez (extra on that under), the Crew needed to like their possibilities of beating Tigres at residence.

However the guests' assault has been spearheaded for years by former France nationwide crew ahead André-Pierre Gignac who, at age 38, stays one in all Concacaf's most deadly finishers. He proved it with a perfectly taken strike that put the hosts in an early gap Tuesday. 

Columbus ultimately dug out of it via Diego Rossi's equalizer simply earlier than halftime. They have been higher over the 90 minutes. However they nonetheless could not discover the primary leg winner they wished and possibly even deserved. 

Now nothing however a win at Estadio Universitario subsequent week will do. That is under no circumstances unattainable for a crew nearly as good because the Crew, but it surely will not be simple in a rustic the place MLS sides hardly ever prevail — particularly with key midfielder Aiden Morris suspended after being proven a second yellow card late in Tuesday's encounter.

Revs's embarrassing evening has one silver lining

This Champions Cup run had been the lone brilliant spot of New England's in any other case dismal begin underneath first yr coach Caleb Porter, whose crew sits lifeless final amongst MLS' 29 groups 5 weeks into the home league's 2024 season.

That ended shortly on Tuesday. Over the opening 24 minutes at a soggy Gillette Stadium in suburban Boston, América scored two probably tie-breaking away targets to successfully render the combination residence and residential collection over earlier than it actually began. Veteran striker Henry Martin opened the scoring simply after the quarter-hour mark, and U.S. males's nationwide teamer Alex Zendejas doubled the Aguilas' lead with a stunning left-footed strike effectively earlier than the primary half was over, a lot to the delight of the 1000's of América followers in attendance. 

Two extra targets after the break added the exclamation mark. 

Certain, loopy stuff occurs in soccer. However anticipating the Revs to go 7,200 toes above sea degree and rout Mexico's richest and most profitable membership by 4 or extra targets on the Iconic Azteca Stadium is not life like. New England's run is over. And if that truth permits Porter's facet to prioritize slowly climbing up MLS's Jap Convention standings and into playoff competition, maybe it is for one of the best.

The place was Cucho Hernández?

Probably the most intriguing subplot of both recreation Tuesday was simply Crew coach Wilfried Nancy's obvious choice to not even gown star Colombian striker Cucho Hernández for the essential opener in Ohio's capital.  Nancy sat Cucho in an MLS common season contest over the weekend for what the boss referred to as a violation of "crew coverage," in response to the Columbus Dispatch. The unspecified infraction was  seemingly extreme sufficient to increase to the most important match the Crew – who've by no means reached the Concacaf remaining 4 – have performed since successful MLS Cup final December.

It was a gutsy choice, little question, but in addition one which left the hosts at a definite drawback with out their match-winning talisman. It additionally makes you surprise what occurs subsequent. Will Cucho be again in Nancy's lineup for subsequent week's decider in Monterrey? Is the injury past restore? There have been no clear solutions within the speedy aftermath of Tuesday's stalemate, one which left the Crew needing an unlikely win south of the border within the rematch to advance to the semifinals.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports activities. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a workers author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities and he has lined United States males's and ladies's nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Observe him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

 

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