América saw off Columbus Crew 2-0 in the Liga Cup quarter-finals at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday evening. The hosts took control early and held on despite a second-half surge from the visitors. Raphael Veiga opened the scoring in the eleventh minute before B. Rodriguez doubled the lead just before half-time. Columbus missed a penalty in the thirty-ninth minute, a moment that shifted the balance.
Veiga curled a shot into the far corner after a quick turnover, catching the Crew defence flat-footed. Mendez then had a chance to respond from the spot but his penalty was saved by the América goalkeeper. To be fair, the hosts had already settled into a rhythm. Columbus pressed harder after the miss, but América's structure held firm.
Rodriguez made it two from close range in the fifty-fifth minute. A cross came in from the right and he finished low into the corner. By then Columbus were throwing bodies forward. América absorbed the pressure and looked dangerous on the break.
Columbus brought on five players across two windows, starting in the sixty-sixth minute. América also made changes, bringing on Rodriguez himself in the eightieth. Perea picked up a yellow card for América in the eightieth-fifth minute. Habroune was the last substitution for Columbus in the eighty-eighth.
Columbus dominated possession at sixty-two per cent but failed to convert their superiority. Both sides registered eight shots on target, yet América took more care with their chances. The visitors created five big opportunities compared to two for América. Shots accuracy was identical at fifty-seven for América and fifty for Columbus.
The result extends América's unbeaten run to five matches. They have won three and drawn one in that sequence. Columbus, meanwhile, have lost three of their last five outings. The quarter-final tie is now open for América, who will look to build on this performance.
