Cincinnati settles its pending issue and beats Chivas 3-1 in the Leagues Cup

2023-07-28 21:06:02

CINCINNATI (AP) — Sixteen hours later, Cincinnati settled a pending issue with a 3-1 win over Chivas on Friday to advance to the second round of the Leagues Cup.

American forward Brandon Vázquez scored a hat-trick with goals after two, eight and 73 minutes to give the MLS team the victory.

The game was scheduled to end on Thursday night, but a thunderstorm prevented the game from continuing, which was halted after 59 minutes.

The two teams waited almost three hours to resume, but the leaders of both clubs chose to postpone it to Friday.

Antonio Briseño gave Guadalajara hope with a goal in the 60th minute, but then Vázquez put an end to any attempt to react.

With the result, Cincinnati reaches five points and advanced to the next round as first place in Group 3 of the Central Zone.

Chivas, who is the leader of the Apertura tournament after the first three dates, was left with 10 players at 45 due to the expulsion of defender Gilberto Sepúlveda.

Guadalajara is not eliminated, but they must prevail over Kansas City next Monday to advance as second in the group.

Vázquez, who is of a Mexican mother, effusively celebrated his three scores. A year ago, Chivas sought to sign him but the then sports director, Ricardo Peláez, decided not to pay the five million dollars that the transfer cost.

With the result, the MLS teams tied those of the Liga MX in their direct confrontations to seven victories per side. In addition, three matches have ended tied.