Mexican top club Club America suffered a surprise defeat from the Leagues Cup against Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, leaving none from Liga MX among the last four teams in the tournament.

In the semifinals of the joint Liga MX-MLS tournament, reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew will face Philadelphia Union, while the Rapids will face Los Angeles FC.

America, Mexico’s most successful team, played a home game in Carson, California, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and was able to attract thousands of Mexican-American fans to support them.

However, they were disappointed after the goalless draw, in which both teams had few chances, had to be decided on penalties, which the Rapids won 9-8.

The marathon shootout ended in sudden death when both teams’ goalies took shots and Colorado’s Zack Steffen put the ball in the net, but Luis Malagon’s shot missed the goal.

The other Mexican club in the quarterfinals, Mazatlan, also went out on penalties, losing to Philadelphia Union.

Philadelphia were down a man just before halftime when striker Tai Baribo was wrongfully sent off for the offense for which he received his second yellow card.

But two minutes later, Danish striker Mikael Uhre put Union ahead when he broke through on the left, cut inside and finished with a clever lob over Mazatlan goalkeeper Ricardo Gutierrez.

The Liga MX team equalized in the 59th minute when Alonso Escoboza rose and headed in a cross from Ramiro Arciga.

But despite their numerical superiority and possession, Mazatlan were unable to score a winning goal. Philly keeper Andre Blake forced the game to a penalty shootout after making a brilliant reflex save to deny a header from Facundo Almada.

Jamaican Blake proved a hero in the penalty shootout, making two superb saves as Jim Curtin’s team won 4-3 and reached the last four for the first time in a row.

Columbus advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over New York City after the match had ended 1-1, while ten-man Union also needed a penalty shootout to defeat Mexican team Mazatlan.

In Columbus, the guests from New York took the lead just 14 seconds after the start of the game when Alonso Martinez took the ball from Crew defender Rudy Camacho, entered the penalty area and shot the ball into the goal.

– Cool penalty –

Striker Cucho Hernandez had a great chance to equalise the game, but his shot from inside the box went wide and the Colombian forced Matt Freese into a brilliant save.

But four minutes before halftime, Columbus, which had eliminated cup winners Inter Miami in the previous round, equalized.

Max Arfsten delivered a cross from the right and Hernandez headed the ball into the bottom corner with a perfectly angled header.

There were few chances in the second half and despite strong pressure from Columbus in the closing stages, the game went to penalties.

Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte saved against Maxi Moralez, but then Diego Rossi’s attempt was blocked by City’s Freese.

After New York’s Santiago Rodriguez missed his shot high and wide, it was left to DeJuan Jones to secure the win with a cool penalty kick.

The only team to win in regular time was Los Angeles FC, who advanced after an impressive 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.

Ryan Hollingshead gave LAFC the lead in the 14th minute before experienced Kei Kamara doubled the lead 11 minutes later.

Denis Bouanga sealed the victory in the 53rd minute with a precise finish after he grabbed a ball from French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris over the bar.

heavy/sn