After securing their spot in the Semifinals of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League in April, Philadelphia Union face off against Liga MX giant Club America at Estadio Azteca on Thursday night. Fans can watch the match on FS1 for what many are calling the biggest match in Union history when coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia Union carries the torch for Major League Soccer as the sole remaining participate in the event and has done so with strong defense and timely goals when the moments presented themselves. The Union's run to Azteca began in early April against Costa Rica powerhouse Deportive Saprissa and Kacper Przybylko's first-half header gave the club a pivotal road goal. The match also gave the Union their first taste of Concacaf action with a hard foul late in the contest against Kai Wagner saw the intensity carry over into the home leg the following week. The Union took care of business with a 4-0 home win that made it two straight shutouts.
In the Quarterfinal round the Boys in Blue faced off against Atlanta United and quickly showed that the squad could handle any adversity. Led by two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake's five saves in the first half, the Union left the home side flattened against the turf with a huge three-goal second half. Andre Blake was unbeatable in the first half and Kacper Przybylko took over after the break, scoring two and setting up Anthony Fontana to pound the golden spike into the Five Stripes’ hearts. Back at Subaru Park, the back and forth affair saw the Union concede their first goal of the tournament but Przybylko notched his fifth of the tournament in the 88th minute to see the Boys in Blue through via a 4-1 aggregate.
Meanwhile Club America's path to the semis has been anything but easy with a difficult matchup against Honduran giants CD Olimpia in the Round of 16. Las Aguilas took the first leg 2-1 in Honduras and then did just enough to win the series, despite a 1-0 defeat at home in the second leg, with the two away goals serving as the tiebreaker in the 2-2 aggregate final.
In the quarterfinals, Club America got their first taste of MLS action with a 1-1 first leg draw against the Portland Timbers. After looking like they'd leave the U.S. with a 1-0 advantage, the Timbers found an equalizer late to set up the final leg all squared. Next up was another tough 180 minutes with the Portland Timbers of MLS. Just when Club America thought they would claim a 1-0 win in the first leg away, Portland struck in the game’s final minute for a 1-1 draw. The second leg at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City was another intense affair, but a Federico Vinas brace would serve as the base of a 3-1 win and a 4-2 triumph on aggregate.
Head Coach Santiago Solari’s side have started off their league campaign undefeated, with their last loss stretching back to May when Pachuca eliminated them from the Liga MX playoffs.
While Henry Martin is only now returning from the Olympics, as are goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, midfielder Sebastian Cordova and defender Jorge Sanchez, and Viñas won’t be fit for the first leg, other forwards have picked up the slack. Roger Martinez scored from the spot against Puebla and Mauro Lainez has been a key creator as they look to build an advantage at home.
