Pachuca beats Dynamo but falls short of the quarterfinals; what do the "Tuzos" need to qualify?

The clash between Pachuca's "Tuzos" and the Houston Dynamo benefited Jaime Lozano's team on Matchday 3 of the 2025 Leagues Cup after the Liga MX teams put on a great display against MLS last Sunday at the close of the second matchday.

The Texan team wanted to finish a difficult tournament with dignity. However, they left without earning a single point in the 2025 Leagues Cup. Find out the details below.

With goals from Luis Quiñones and Gatón Togni , the 'Tuzos' of Pachuca fulfilled their mission of beating a weak Houston Dynamo (2-1) in the last day of phase one in the 2025 Leagues Cup.

In the 24th minute, the Colombian from Puebla appeared to counter a shot from young Alexei Dominguez that was spat out by English goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

But in the 82nd minute, Frenchman Amine Bassi appeared to beat Mexican goalkeeper Carlos Moreno from the penalty spot, temporarily sending the match to penalties.

But Pachuca wasn't going to let things rest like that. Argentine Gastón Togni received the ball on the left wing and drove it into the box, delivering a powerful shot to give the Hidalgo side the three points, which don't guarantee their qualification.

Although Pachuca finished in the top four of the Liga MX standings in the Leagues Cup, they still have to wait until Matchday 3 to find out if they will play in the quarterfinals, due to the competition's new format.

The quarterfinals will be played between the top four teams from Liga MX and the MLS . There are two individual tables per competition, and the top teams advance.

Thus, Pachuca depends on no more than two teams from among Tigres, Puebla, Mazatlán FC Juárez, Pumas, and Necaxa obtaining results that put them above or equal (with a better goal difference) in points with the team from the capital of Hidalgo.

Toluca, which beat NYC , is also in danger of losing its qualification despite sitting at the top of the table, so the rest of Matchday 3 will be filled with excitement and speculation.

The match will be played on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 , at 6:30 pm (Central Mexico time), at Shell Energy Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo, in Texas.

This will be the final match of phase one for both teams, with direct implications for the Liga MX standings within the binational tournament.

The match will be streamed live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and also with an Apple TV+ subscription for Mexico. At this time, the match is not available on broadcast channels such as TUDN or TV Azteca. These are the official options:

• Streaming : MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and Apple TV+.

In Mexico, 16 matches will be broadcast on non-Apple networks: 12 in the first phase and four in the elimination phase, with five matches exclusively on Televisa and ten on TV Azteca . The final will be broadcast simultaneously on both networks. Additionally, 37 matches will be available on Apple TV+, including the entire second phase of the tournament.

The Tuzos have four points after a victory in the Pachuca vs. San Diego match and a draw with LAFC (losing on penalties). To seal their qualification, they need a win and improve their goal difference, which is key in the tiebreakers.

Without Jhonder Cádiz , who was sent off in the previous match, Tuzos coach Jaime Lozano will have to adjust his attack to avoid depending on other results.

Pachuca will have to create a game from the start, considering that a comprehensive victory could secure their place without relying on outsiders. The team has shown solidity defensively, but needs more precision in the final third of the field.

Houston Dynamo , meanwhile, already mathematically out of contention after two consecutive defeats, will try to say goodbye with a win in front of their fans and avoid finishing the tournament without points. With a team free of pressure, they can play more freely and pose a dangerous challenge if the "Tuzos" don't stay focused.

The Leagues Cup, with its new format, only qualifies four teams from each league for the quarterfinals. The margin for error is minimal. In Liga MX, several clubs are tied with four or five points , making this final phase an open and exciting battle.

With teams like Tigres, Pumas, Toluca, and Juárez fighting even harder for the same goal, every goal and every point counts.

For this reason, Pachuca vs. Houston Dynamo isn't just a group finale: it's a battle for permanence in the tournament. Can the Tuzos advance to the quarterfinals? They depend not only on the need to win, but also on results against Liga MX teams ranked above them.