Minnesota United falls in eighth round of penalty shootout after giving up tying goal late to 10-man Club América

After allowing an own goal in the first half and surrendering the tying goal to Club América — while it was playing a man short — in the 90th minute, Minnesota United lost in the eighth round of a penalty kick shootout in a Leagues Cup match on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Club América’s Sebastián Cáceres tied the score at 3-3 in the 90th minute, scoring on a header off a corner kick from Brian Rodriguez.

In the shootout, each team converted seven penalty kicks before the Loons’ eighth attempt — by Nicolás Romero — was stopped by goalkeeper Ángel Malagón. Isaías Violante then converted his attempt against Dayne St. Clair to end the match.

“Tough,” the Loons’ Tani Oluwaseyi told reporters after the game. “I think we probably think we deserve a little bit more from that, but you know, I think this has become a bit of a pattern for us dropping points late, so you know, it’s one of those we can’t really dwell on it too much. Go to recover and get ready for the next game.”

Carlos Harvey’s goal gave the Loons a 3-2 lead in the 65th minute, three minutes after América’s Igor Lichnovsky was given a red card following his second yellow card in the 62nd minute. Lichnovsky had received his first yellow card only 13 minutes earlier.

Following Harvey’s goal, fans threw drinks on the field at Loons players as they celebrated.

Club América, the Mexican giant based in Mexico City, trailed 2-1 at halftime before tying it in the 53rd minute on a goal by Raúl Zúñiga, again on a header from close range that was assisted by Álex Zendejas.

Club América tied it 1-1 in the 27th minute on an own goal by the Loons’ Michael Boxall. But four minutes later, Bongokuhle Hlongwane restored the Loons with a with a right-footed shot from close range, with Pereyra again earning an assist.

Oluwayseyi and Hlongwane each scored in the Loons’4-1 victory over Queretaro FC in the first round on July 30 at Allianz Field. Hlongwane scored seven goals in five games in the Leagues Cup in 2023. Hlongwane, who didn’t score in the 2024 Leagues Cup, entered this season tied for third all-time in Leagues Cup goals, behind only Denis Bouanga (12) and Lionel Messi (10).

It was the first-ever meeting between the Loons and Club América, which lost its first Leagues Cup match to Real Salt Lake on 3-1 penalty kicks in Sandy, Utah.

“I think we bet on ourselves against anyone, so I think it was a good challenge for us,” Oluwaseyi said. “I think we stepped up to the challenge. It probably would have been a lot sweeter if we could have seen it out.

“There’s definitely a lot of really good things that we did well, and you know, we played really well for a lot of the game.”

Leagues Cup standings

Of the 12 MLS teams in the competition that have played two matches, only one — Portland — is 2-0 with six points after two regulation victories. Inter Miami has five points. The Loons are one of three teams with four points. Six other MLS teams play their second match Sunday, and five of those won their Leagues Cup opener.