MIAMI, Florida – The eight teams involved in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals were all in action over the weekend in their respective domestic leagues, including Cruz Azul and Pumas squaring off at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in Liga MX play.

The spoils would belong to Cruz Azul, who downed their city rivals 2-1.

After excellent saves from GKs Alfredo Talavera of Pumas and Jesus Corona of Cruz Azul, the home side would grab the 1-0 opener in the 29’ on a solid header at the back post from Luis Abram.

Pumas would strike right back, though, just one minute later in the 30’, with Fabio Alvarez latching onto a back-heeled pass from Rogerio and firing into net for the equalizer.

The score was still locked at 1-1 going into the final 20 minutes when Juan Escobar settled matters with the winning goal in the 70’ with a spectacular scissor-kick off a cross from Uriel Antuna to earn Cruz Azul the three points.

Liga MX’s other SCCL quarterfinalist, Club Leon, endured a frustrating day at the office in a 3-0 defeat with Tigres. Goals from Andre-Pierre Gignac in the 22’ and Luis Quinones in the 27’ gave the Felinos a 2-0 lead, before Florian Thauvin rounded out the 3-0 scoreline in the 72’ with a goal.

In the Guatemalan Clausura, Comunicaciones were back in domestic action following their 3-1 midweek loss at New York City FC and picked up a 1-0 win at Nueva Concepcion. Lynner Garcia scored in first half stoppage time to deliver the three points to the Cremas.

Week three of the MLS season saw all four SCCL quarterfinalists in action, beginning with a pair of SCCL title aspirants facing each other in New York, as NYCFC downed CF Montreal, 4-1.

Alexander Callens got things started early with a left-footed volley in the 7’ for a 1-0 NYCFC lead. Santiago Rodriguez then made it 2-0 in the 20’ when he stole a pass and chipped in a shot over Montreal GK Sebastian Breza.

The visiting Canadians pulled a goal back, 2-1, in the 52’ courtesy of Zachary Brault-Guillard, who turned in a shot at the far post off a cross from Djordje Mihailovic.

But the day belonged to NYCFC, who tacked on another two insurance goals on a Talles Magno header in the 64’ and Thiago Andrade’s right-footed finish in the 83’ for the 4-1 final.

Fresh off their 3-0 win over Club Leon in midweek, the Seattle Sounders captured another victory in a 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Javier Hernandez handed the Galaxy an early 1-0 lead in the 6’, but Jordan Morris would even things up at 1-1 when he managed to push a shot over the line in the 17’ off a corner kick.

Seattle then took their first lead of the day courtesy of a penalty conversion from Fredy Montero in the 45+2’, only for Los Angeles to counter and make it 2-2 in the 48’ through Douglas Costa’s slightly deflected free kick.

Each side were keen for a winner, and it would go to the Sounders, as Xavier Arreaga headed home a cross in the 72’ for the 3-2 Seattle Victory.

Rounding out the weekend for MLS’ SCCL quarterfinalists were the New England Revolution falling 3-2 to Real Salt Lake.

Emmanuel Boateng buried a left footed shot in the 45+3’ to give New England a 1-0 halftime lead. Jozy Altidore then scored his first goal with the Revolution in the 63’ by steering home a header to double the advantage, 2-0.

But a late surge from Real Salt Lake proved to be too much, as Sergio Cordova and Justen Glad scored in the 78’ and 88’, respectively, to tie things up, before Tate Schmitt found the winning score in the 90+3’ for the visitors.