Mexican-American #19 Mauricio Cuevas helped his LA Galaxy defeat Liga MX’s Pachuca with a 2-1 score at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. LA advances to the Leagues Cup 2025 Semifinal and will host Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, August 27th, 2005 in the same stadium where they were victorious.

The lanky, pink-boot wearing #19 Mauricio Cuevas started the game and got his first touch on the ball in the first minute. Shortly after, he tied up a Pachuca attacker to initiate a breakaway for LA Galaxy. At the 12th minute, he brought down a long pass smoothly with his chest and set up his teammate #6 Edwin Cerillo in the box. Cerillo was defended well by Pachuca and failed to take a shot.

Diego Fagundez, Marco Reus, and Gabriel Pec

Cuevas scrambled for the ball at the 26th minute to earn a corner kick for his LA Galaxy. The corner kick resulted in an own goal by Pachuca’s #3 Daniel Aceves as he deflected a pass by LA Galaxy captain #18 Marco Reus. The captain would score again at the 37th minute. LA Galaxy held the lead until the final whistle, giving up a goal at the 96th minute.

As I focused on Mauricio Cuevas, I argue the LA Galaxy favored keeping the ball on his side of the field because of the growing confidence his teammates have in him.