Club América had a bad showing in their debut in the Leagues Cup. They were able to salvage a point thanks to a last minute goal but this current team looks unrecognizable from a year ago. Real Salt Lake were able to take extra points but they will regret finishing the game in regular time. Now they will prepare to face San Luis next while the Aguilas will face off against Minnesota.
The Aguilas had the first chance of the game in the third minute when Rodrigo ‘Bufalo’ Aguirre made his way up the left
flank and sent the ball into the box but there was no yellow jersey to get on the end of the cross. A minute later Brian Rodriguez had his own chance when he sent the ball towards goal from the edge of the box but it went to the hands of goalkeeper Rafael Cabral. A few minutes later youngster Isaias Violante sends the ball towards goal upon receiving it but Cabral punched the ball out for a corner that went nowhere for the visitors. Real Salt Lake did not get their first chance until the ninth minute when Israel Reyes committed a mistake and William Agada took the ball away but Luis Angel Malagon was there to block the shot. In the 12th minute it looked like Salt Lake got a penalty when Cristian Borja knocked down Zavier Gozo in the box but América were saved by the offside flag. It was then in the 16th minute when Salt Lake made the Aguilas pay for a mistake.
Diego Luna with the finish from close range puts @RealSaltLake up on Club América
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2025
#MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/PVXdd8VWfK pic.twitter.com/zdcWRQuB1a
Reyes lost the ball and Agada pounced on it but Malagon was there to block the shot but he did not hang onto the ball as he got hit by his defender Sebastian Cáceres so he did not get to the rebound fast enough. However, Agada did and sent the ball over to Diego Luna who pushed the ball into the back of the net to open the score at home.
Immediately afterwards the visitors attempted to equalize as Alejandro Zendejas attempted a shot at goal but Cabral was there to collect the ball. Agada had a chance a few minutes later but Cáceres beat him and headed the ball back to Malagon. Minutes later Diogo sent the ball inside the box but Igor Lichnovsky fought for it and eventually got it out of his box and out of danger. The Aguilas had a chance in the 29th minute when Reyes made his way into the box where he sent the ball to the other side where Violante was open but he was unable to get the ball on target. Reyes then made his way back to his side of the field where he was able to stop a shot from Salt Lake that would’ve gone in if not for his block. A minute later Violante found himself with the ball at his feet once again, but he sent the ball over the crossbar. It was a few minutes later when Alvaro Fidalgo had a big chance in front of goal when he sent the ball to the top corner of the net but somehow Cabral was able to get the ball out before it passed the line. It was then in the 40th minute when the Aguilas suffered a blow after defender Cáceres went down to the ground and had to be subbed off on a stretcher. It was a no-contact injury so until the club releases a statement it will be unknown what happened to the Uruguayan. Even though the Aguilas lost an important player it did not damper their mood.
El primero a nuestro favor, ¡marcado por Brian Rodríguez! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/udTmFmzgff
— Club América (@ClubAmerica) July 31, 2025
América were awarded a free kick outside of the box that Brian Rodriguez took and sent to the top corner to equalize before halftime. Sadly for the visitors the tie did not last long.
Go Go Gozo
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2025
Zavier Gozo's header helps @RealSaltLake take back the lead from Club América pic.twitter.com/bTsbx3wq61
Two minutes into stoppage Salt Lake retook the lead after Agada headed the ball towards the net where it hit the crossbar then it hit Malagon’s arm and went in then bounced out. That was when Gozo got the rebound but the goal went to Agada since the ball did cross the line before going out. Even though they were down a goal, the Aguilas were only down by one so a comeback in the second half was possible.
Minutes into the second half Salt Lake had a chance at goal but Malagon was able to collect the ball easily. Kevin Alvarez then sent a ball into the box intended for ‘Bufalo’ Aguirre but the Real defense headed the ball out before it got to ‘Bufalo.’ A few minutes later Alvarez made his way up the flank where he sent the ball to Zendejas who took a shot but the ball was defended out for a corner that ultimately went nowhere. It was in the 65th minute when the Aguilas made a change and Henry Martin made his long awaited return. The Aguilas needed his old self back if they wanted to win this game and make it far in the competition. A minute later the visitors almost conceded after Reyes once again lost the ball as Diego Luna stole the ball and made his way into the box but Malagon came out and kicked the ball out of danger. A few minutes later Zuñiga made his way into the box with the ball but he was unable to get around the defender and he was eventually dispossessed. In the 80th minute Salt Lake lost a big chance when they were awarded a free kick. Luna played the kick short as he went straight to the box where he passed it off to his teammate. Luna then got the ball back then he sent it to Agada who missed the ball when all he had to do was push the ball over the line to call the game. This missed chance came back to haunt them 10 minutes later in stoppage time when Erick Sanchez scored the goal in the final minute to send the game to penalties.
— LIGA MX BRASIL (@LigaMexicanaBR) July 31, 2025
Álvaro Fidalgo acha um ótimo passe para Raúl Zúñiga fazer o pivô perfeito para ERICK SÁNCHEZ empatar a partida no ÚLTIMO LANCE
AMÉRICA 2x2 Real Salt Lake #LeaguesCup2025#LigaMXBrasil pic.twitter.com/rMor0EcWfF
It was then in penalties when the man of the match Cabral showed up. He stopped three penalties from Henry Martin, Israel Reyes and Raul Zuñiga to win the extra point.
Real Salt Lake: Rablo Ruiz ✅ Justen Glad ✅ Brayan Vera ✅ Braian Ojeda X
Club América: Henry Martin X Alvaro Fidalgo ✅ Israel Reyes X Raul Zuñiga X
HUGE Rafael Cabral performance to secure 2️⃣ points for @realsaltlake
— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) July 31, 2025
Of course he’s our MOTM pres. by GEICO pic.twitter.com/OZjwDltcJ8
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