America loses on penalties to Real Salt Lake

▲ Israel Reyes (left) of the Águilas missed his 11-yard attempt, consummating his team's loss. AP Photo

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 31, 2025, p. a31

América fell on penalties (3-1) to Real Salt Lake, after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, in a Leagues Cup match played at America First Field in Utah. The Eagles sent the match to a penalty shootout thanks to Erick Sánchez, who volleyed a powerful shot past goalkeeper Rafael Barbosa in the final minutes of the match.

The Coapa team went down early on the scoreboard with a goal from Diego Luna (16), taking advantage of a poor exit by goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón in the penalty area. Uruguayan Brian Rodríguez (42) tied the match with a superb free kick that exploded into the top corner.

Before the end of the first half, a header from William Agada gave the Americans the lead. In the penalty shootout, América missed shots from Henry Martín, Israel Reyes, and José Raúl Zúñiga.

By losing on penalties, América earned just one point and complicates its journey to the quarterfinals, as only the top four teams in each league advance. André Jardine's team continues its poor run in international tournaments, having been eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup and missing the Club World Cup.

In other matches in the competition, Minnesota United thrashed Querétaro 4-1 and Portland Timbers did the same by beating Atlético San Luis 4-0.