Atlanta United had won all of its home matches in Concacaf Champions League play coming into Tuesday night’s showdown with the Philadelphia Union, but Jim Curtin’s side had other ideas in his team’s CCL quarterfinal road game.
Andre Blake delivered a stunning, seven-save performance, keeping the Union in the match despite Atlanta United’s early domination. The Union eventually punished Atlanta’s wastefulness, scoring three second-half goals, burning the home team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on the counterattack on the way to a 3-0 romp in their CCL quarterfinal first leg.
Kacper Przybylko scored the the first two Union goals, and set up Anthony Fontana’s insurance tally to fully capitalize on Blake’s third straight CCL shutout.
Blake was up to the task in the first half, making five saves and denying Gabriel Heinze’s side on multiple occasions with jaw-dropping stops. The Jamaican international kept Josef Martinez at bay from close range while also denying Emerson Hyndman’s long-range half volley.
Atlanta United continued to pressure early in the second half, and came close again to breaking the deadlock. Santiago Sosa’s curler from outside of the box rattled the crossbar and kept the Union on the back foot.
However, a defensive lapse by the Five Stripes off a corner kick saw the Union take a major step toward victory. Kai Wagner’s corner eventually fell to a wide open Przybylko, who tapped in his third goal of the competition.
The Friendly Striker loves scoring in @TheChampions!#DOOP | #ATLvPHI 0 – 1 pic.twitter.com/3sTArlfzka
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) April 28, 2021
Przybyłko was at it again not long after, delivering the final blow of the match for his second goal of the match. Leon Flach’s strong run down the left wing eventually saw the midfielder play a pass to an open Przybylko, who curled a shot into the bottom-left corner.
What. A. Build. 😤#DOOP | #ATLvPHI 0 – 2 pic.twitter.com/MpqOmiRMaa
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) April 28, 2021
A late push from the Five Stripes to grab a goal left them open at the back and the Union made them pay once again. Przybylko laid off a pass for an open Anthony Fontana on a 2-on-1 opportunity, who scored his second goal of the tournament.
The only blemish on the night for the Union was Jose Martinez’s first-half yellow card, which will see him miss the second leg match at Subaru Park on May 4th.
Toronto FC 1, Cruz Azul 3
The top team in Liga MX showed why it’s a first-place team, rolling over Toronto FC on the way to a convincing first-leg quarterfinal victory in their Tuesday night opener at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
A third-minute wonder goal from Bryan Angulo set the early tone for the Mexican leaders, and while TFC did earn an equalizer through Jonathan Osorio in the 20th minute, it was Cruz Azul that always looked like the team more likely to finish with a win.
Angulo notched his second goal in the 34th minute, while Pablo Aguilar secured the final tally with a 58th-minute strike to give Cruz Azul a 3-1 advantage heading back to Mexico City for the second leg.
TFC trotted out a strong team for the first leg, with reigning MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo the most notable absence for Chris Armas’ side, but Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez made up the veteran core of a team that still managed to play even with Cruz Azul through the first third of the match, before the visiting team’s quality broke through.
TFC will travel to Mexico City for the second leg on May 4 needing a three-goal victory to overturn the first-leg deficit, or a 3-1 win to force extra time. No easy task against a Cruz Azul side that hasn’t lost since January, and hasn’t suffered a multi-goal defeat since December.
Bradley, Altiore, Omar Gonzalez….just wow.
Blake gives Union a chance in this thing because when he’s on he’s tough to get one by.
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Toronto was never really in this one, Larry was being generous saying the match was even through the first 30 minutes. Could have easily been 3 or 4 to 1 at half. Anyone that thought Bradley could still have a role with the NT after the Leon matches should be back off that bandwagon. Bradley wasn’t bad but he wasn’t good either. He was too slow in defense and wasn’t great in breaking through the Cruz Azul press. He’ll I’m sure have a solid season and Toronto will be better with Pozuelo and Soteldo but not international quality anymore.
I only watched the first half, but I thought that Jozy was invisible, other than the bad pass he made that led to the first Cruz Azul goal. Given the USMNT’s options at striker now, is Jozy even in the conversation anymore?
Blake is so good he keeps most any team in a game. I wish he was an American. As for Toronto, they just didn’t look ready to play. I agree with you about Bradley , but Jozy was even worse. He was about as useful as a traffic cone. The first goal came off his truly horrible giveaway. I’ll tell you one veteran who has been looking awfully good though–Bedoya for Philly. I think he is looking much better than when he was playing for the Nats. While it’s a position of strength, he might make a good sub for the USMNT.
If the U20 WC and the Olympics were also going on this Summer maybe Ale could make the GC with younger options at those competitions. I think as he turns 34 today he’s probably done with NT just as Bradley, Altidore, and Omar should be.