Three MLS sides booked their places into the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday night.
The Philadelphia Union outlasted Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa 6-5 on aggregate after a 3-3 second leg draw between the two clubs at Subaru Park. A 94th minute goal from substitute forward Mikael Uhre proved to be the difference as Jim Curtin’s side eliminated Saprissa for the second time CONCACAF action.
Luis Paradela’s 14th minute penalty kick gave the visitors an early 1-0 advantage, but the Union would flip momentum back in their favor shortly after. Julian Carranza headed home Quinn Sullivan’s cross just three minutes later before the 20-year-old forward followed up a rebound for a 2-1 Union lead after 26 minutes.
Warren Madrigal equalized for Saprissa though to make it 2-2 after 45 minutes of action in Chester.
Mariano Torres’ free-kick finish in the 62nd minute boosted Vladimir Quesada’s squad in front 3-2 which forced extra time. Jack Elliott’s red card ejection in second-half stoppage time forced the Union down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Uhre would slot home Jack McGlynn’s service in the 94th minute, giving Philadelphia an aggregate lead that it would not relinquish.
25-year-old Oliver Semmle made five saves in his second start this season.
The Union will now face Liga MX side Pachuca in the Round of 16.
Orlando City 3, Cavalry FC 1 (Lions advance 6-1 on aggregate)
Orlando City rolled to a 3-1 second-leg victory at home against Canadian Premier League visitors Cavalry FC, eliminating them 6-1 on aggregate.
A pair of offseason acquisitions connected for the Lions opening goal of the match as Nicolas Lodeiro finished off a Luis Muriel assist for a 1-0 lead. It marked their first goal contributions since respective moves from Seattle Sounders and Atalanta.
Cavalry FC tied the match in the 64th minute through Myer Bevan’s close-range finish, but Orlando City would eventually pull away in the match.
Lodeiro’s pass in the 71st minute was rifled home by Ramiro Enrique for a 2-1 Lions lead before Kyle Smith added his name to the scoresheet with two minutes to play.
A tougher test awaits Orlando City in the Round of 16 in the form of Liga MX powerhouse Tigres.
Houston Dynamo 1, St. Louis CITY SC 0 (Dynamo advance on away goal tiebreaker)
Ben Olsen’s Houston Dynamo edged fellow Western Conference side St. Louis CITY SC after a 1-0 second leg at Shell Energy Stadium.
Erik Sviatchenko’s deciding goal on the hour mark made it 2-2 on aggregate, which was enough for Houston to advance on away goals. Veteran shot-stopper Steve Clark registered a three-save clean sheet as well.
Sviatchenko, who entered the match at halftime, finished off Daniel Steres’ pass in the 60th minute. It marked the Danish international’s first goal for the club, which was all Houston needed on the night.
Michael Wentzel’s last-gasp header was gathered by Clark to preserve Houston’s advancement and condemn St. Louis to elimination.