New York(SMI-SPORTS, 08.11.21)-The NYCFC played host to the renowned Mexican soccer club " Puma" in a quaterfinal match of the 2021 Leagues Cup, and loss 3-2, in penalty shootout,  during a 3-hour delayed game due to lightning and rainy weather condition at the legendary Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NYC. 

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Leagues Cup  is an inter-league soccer tournament between professional soccer clubs from the US Major League Soccer (“MLS”) and Liga BBVA MX (“Liga MX”) from Mexico. The Competition began in 2019 and has been sanctioned by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (“Concacaf”). 

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This year’s edition, features four clubs from the MLS: Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC, Seattle Sounders FC, and New York City FC. Tigres, Pumas, Santos and Léon are set to represent the  Liga MX.

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The Boys in blue played well and took control of the game from the start. The offensive attack were consistent with numerous attack that barely missed the net and could easily would put the Boys in Blue 3 goals ahead but both teams retired to the locker-rooms  scoreless at the half.

 

In the second half, New York looked more determined and the

first goal arrived at 62' minute through a header inside the box by Taty Castellanos  when he received a perfect center pass through a corner kick by  Maxi Moralez netting the ball to put the Boys in Blue in front 1-0 over the Pumas.

 

With NYC FC in front 1-0,  the equalizer arrived for the visitors from the bench through striker José Rogério de Oliveira Melo at 71' minute, who replaced Juan Ignacio Dinenno in the second half, kicked a low shot to the left goal post to even the score at one, sending the game to be decided penalty shootout.

 

In the penalty shots, James Sand and Valentin Castellanos scored

 but Ismael Tajouri, Alexander Callens & Maximiliano Moralez failed in their shots for the loss. Meanwhile, Puma scored through Jose Ricardo Galindo, Erika Lira and Sebastian Saucedo. Alan Mozo and Efrain Velarde failed in theirs shots. 

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With the loss, NYCFC got eliminated from the tournament and 

Puma advances to the semifinals round of the 2021 Leagues Cup and will face Leon Club in September 14, 2021 with place and time to be determined.

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