Club América Eliminated from Leagues Cup After Disappointing Phase One Stage
Another summer, another disappointment. Club América have once again fallen short in the Leagues Cup, and this time it might be their worst showing yet. Yes, they went “undefeated” in 90 minutes and won two of their three penalty shootouts, but the reality is that in every match they conceded first and never looked like the dominant tricampeón side from not long ago. Failing to qualify for the next phase only adds to a growing list of failures. now five major ones in the last four months, and once again exposes their struggles against MLS opposition.
Shocking Mistakes Against Real Salt Lake
There was optimism heading into this summer’s Leagues Cup. América publicly stated they were taking the tournament seriously and targeting the title. But talk is cheap, and the opening match proved it. Against a well-prepared Real Salt Lake side, América fell victim to the same mistakes that have plagued them recently. A poor error from Israel Reyes and questionable goalkeeping by Luis Malagón gifted RSL the advantage. Chasing the game from early on, América relied on a late Erick Sánchez equalizer to force penalties, only to lose the shootout.
That result alone made qualification extremely difficult under the new format, where teams essentially need to win all three matches to guarantee a top-four finish in the group. Starting with a draw and a penalty loss meant América was already climbing uphill.
Fighting Spirit but Costly Defending vs Minnesota United
If RSL was bad, the Minnesota United match bordered on chaotic. América trailed three times in the game, each time showing defensive fragility and a lack of confidence in their back line. Minnesota capitalized on every opening, while América scrambled to respond. The silver lining was the team’s resilience, they refused to fold and equalized each time, showing there’s still some fight left. But relying on that spirit over a full season is not sustainable, especially when defensive liabilities are so obvious. Rodrigo Aguirre nearly won it in stoppage time on a counterattack but couldn’t finish the chance.
The match ended 3–3, with América taking the penalty shootout for two points. Still, the damage was done. Later results confirmed their elimination before the first phase even ended.
A Respectable Draw Against Portland, but Too Little Too Late
The final match against Portland Timbers was all about pride. On paper, it was América’s toughest task, facing a team that had won its first two games without conceding a single goal. Predictably, América conceded first once again, forcing themselves to chase the game. They controlled possession but failed repeatedly in the final pass. A lifeline came through Ramón Juárez, who headed in from a corner to level the score. Despite creating more chances, América’s finishing let them down.
In the end, they held Portland to a draw and won the penalty shootout, closing the tournament “undefeated” in regulation but without a single 90-minute win. For a club of América’s stature, that stat rings hollow.
What’s Next for América?
The players and coaching staff have a lot to reflect on. With the Leagues Cup over, the focus now shifts entirely to Liga MX. Next up is a Jornada 4 home match against Querétaro, one that América must win, not just for points, but to restore confidence.
The transfer window remains open, and if the club is serious about avoiding another wasted season, reinforcements are needed. Allan Saint-Maximin is close to arriving to Mexico to complete his move to América, but the 28-year old French winger will not be enough. The ghosts of recent failures won’t vanish overnight, but consistent wins and building momentum in the league could begin to change the story.