NEW YORK:
Jader Obrian and Dani Pereira scored second-half goals to lift Austin FC over Monterrey 2-0 on Tuesday and into the knockout phase of the Leagues Cup.
Colombian winger Obrian scored in the 61st minute and Venezuelan midfielder Pereira added an insurance goal in the 79th for the Texas squad, who had opened group play with a 3-2 victory over Pumas in their three-team group.
It put Austin into the last 32 of the competition, which was won last year by Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami.
The tournament features MLS and Liga MX Mexican clubs in a World Cup format with two of three teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds.
Ten-man Minnesota United kept alive their hopes with a 1-0 home victory over Necaxa with Finnish midfielder Robin Lod netting the only goal in the 10th minute and the Loons holding on after Hugo Bacharach’s red card in the 20th minute.
Minnesota had dropped the group opener 2-0 to Seattle.
Host Montreal edged Atletico San Luis 3-2 to avoid elimination after dropping a group opener 4-1 at Orlando.
Montreal’s Tom Pearce, an English defender, scored in the 17th minute and Matias Coccaro made it 2-0 in the 27th minute.
Uruguayan striker Coccaro was denied from the penalty spot in the 37th minute by Atletico goalkeeper Andres Sanchez but the Canadian side still led 2-0 at half-time.
Ivory Coast forward Franck Boli scored a penalty in the 77th minute but Nigerian striker Sunusi Ibrahim answered for Montreal in the 82nd.
Mexico’s Jurgen Damm scored from the penalty sport in the 13th minute of second-half stoppage time to shrink the final victory margin.
CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Pachuca beat the host New York Red Bulls 5-4 on penalties after the sides played to a 1-1 draw, with Mexican midfielder Sergio de los Rios netting the decider.
Brazilian 22-year-old striker Elias Manoel lifted New York into the lead in the 47th minute but Venezuelan international captain Salomon Rondon equalized for Pachuca in the 56th.
The Red Bulls also lost the group opener to Toronto on penalties.
The Cup disciplinary committee issued a four-game ban to Club Tijuana coach Juan Carlos Osorio for abusive conduct and violent conduct to referees after he received a red card in the 13th minute of a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles FC.
Tijuana’s final group match will be played on Saturday at Vancouver.
