Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Cruz Azul

In a pulsating encounter at Dignity Health Sports Park, LA Galaxy and Cruz Azul canceled each other out in a 1–1 draw, only for the Mexican side to edge through in a marathon 8–7 penalty shootout—a moment of drama that showcased both resilience and heartbreak.


Cruz Azul looked dangerous early, with Carlos “Charly” Rodríguez burying a precise left-footed finish to give La Máquina the lead. But against the run of play, Galaxy found an equalizer late—Gabriel Pec sliding in to level the score in the 81st minute and shift hope back to the home side.


From there, the match turned into a psychological war of nerves. Goalkeeper Kevin Mier emerged as the hero for Cruz Azul, making two crucial saves in sudden-death rounds that ultimately propelled his team through to levity and an important two points—despite their daunting –7 goal differential.

For LA Galaxy, the result stings. They showed character, poise, and belief—equalizing late and holding their nerve for seven rounds of spot-kicks before finally slipping. But in knockout-style tournaments, the margins are unforgiving. Their fate now hinges on a must-win final group match if advancement is to remain a realistic goal.

Ultimately, this 1–1 (7–8 on penalties) exit wasn’t for lack of effort—it was a testament to how razor-thin the line of success can be. Moments like these, where composure and cup experience carry more weight than momentum, remain the currency of triumph in Leagues Cup arenas.