San Jose, Costa Rica (April 7, 2021) – The Philadelphia Union beat Deportivo Saprissa 1-0 in the first leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium. With the win, Coach Jim Curtin secured his 100th win across all competitions. In the first half, Olivier Mbaizo found Kacper Przybylko for the Union’s first Champions League goal in the 34th minute. The Union’s loan goal would prove to be enough in the second half as Andre Blake was able to secure a clean sheet behind a strong defensive effort. Blake finished the game with 2 saves. The Union head into leg two ahead 1-0 on aggregate along with a crucial away goal. The Union return home to Subaru Park on April 14th where they will face Deportivo Saprissa for leg 2 of the Concacaf Champions League (8:00 p.m. ET / FS1).
Philadelphia Union 1 – Deportivo Saprissa 0
Ricardo Saprissa Stadium (San Jose, Costa Rica)
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
MATCH INFO
Referee: Ismael Cornejo
Assistant Referees: David Moran, Geovany Garcia
Fourth Official: Ivan Barton
Referee Assessor: Livingston Bailey
GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Kacper Przybylko (Mbaizo) 34’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Matt Real (caution) 75’
Saprissa – Ricardo Blanco (caution) 90’
PHI – Jakob Glesnes (caution) 90’
PHI – Jamiro Monteiro (caution) 90’
Saprissa – Daniel Colindres (caution) 90’
Saprissa – Michael Barrantes (caution) 90’
LINEUP
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Olivier Mbaizo, Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott, Kai Wagner; Jose Martinez; Jamiro Monteiro, Alejandro Bedoya, Leon Flach (Matt Real 63'); Kacper Przybylko (Quinn Sullivan 90 +4), Anthony Fontana
Substitutes not used: Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn, Stuart Findlay, Aurelien Collin, Matt Freese
Deportivo Saprissa: Aaron Cruz; Ricardo Blanco, Esteban Espindola, Kendall Watson, Aubrey David, Luis Jose Hernandez (Walter Cortes 86’); Michael Barrantes, Mariano Torres, Christian Bolanos; Jimmy Marin (Jeiner Ballestero 85’), Daniel Colindres
Substitutes not used: Jonathan Martinez, Francisco Alejandro Gomez Bermudez, Douglas Sequeira, Joel Fabricio Aleman Gaitan, Jordy Evans
TEAM NOTES
- Coach Jim Curtin wins his 100th game across all competitions.
- The Philadelphia Union made their first CCL appearance and win in club history.
- Forward Kacper Przybylko scored the Union’s first Champions League goal in club history.
- Defender Leon Flach started his first game for the Union.
- Midfielder Quinn Sullivan made his first team debut in the 90th minute.
- Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered his first clean sheet in the CCL.
The Union are home at Subaru Park on April 14th where they will face Deportivo Saprissa. (8:00 p.m. ET / FS1).
