Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union battled one of the continent’s best teams and picked up a gritty draw in regulation to claim the top spot in their group before falling in a penalty kick shootout to Cruz Azul on Sunday night.

Midfielder Daniel Gazdag sent the match to the penalty kick shootout with an 88th-minute goal to cancel out a first-half strike from the Liga MX side.

With tonight's result, Philadelphia Union will host CF Montreal on Friday, August 9th at Subaru Park in a Round of 32 matchup for the 2024 Leagues Cup. Tickets for the match are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here!

Eight days after their 1-0 win against Charlotte to open Leagues Cup play, Philadelphia Union hosted Cruz Azul at home for a Sunday night showdown. Head Coach Jim Curtin had a fully healthy crew for his team’s first Liga MX matchup of Leagues Cup, only missing starters Nate Harriel and Jack McGlynn who concluded their Olympic campaign with Team USA on Friday. Otherwise, his full squad was available to play, including Andre Blake who made his fourth straight start since returning from an injury that had left him out for most of the first half of the season. In front of him, Curtin sent out a defense featuring Kai Wagner on the left, Olivier Mbaizo on the right, plus Jack Elliott and Damion Lowe paired at centerback. In midfield, he started team captain Alejandro Bedoya, Jose Martinez, Daniel Gazdag, and Quinn Sullivan while pairing Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre up top to complete the diamond.

Cruz Azul fans were abundant in the audience at Subaru Park and their excitement paired with Union faithful’s unwavering energy made for an intense environment from the start. The intensity translated to the field early as Union captain Alejandro Bedoya was booked three minutes after the opening whistle after a hustle play saw the midfielder clip the opposition’s boot.

The six-time continental club champions stuck to their offensive game plan that has them atop Apertura league play as they dominated possession. The amount of time on the ball saw the Mexican side outshoot Philadelphia by an 11-1 margin in the opening half, starting with a pair of off-target attempts from Lorenzo Faravelli and Alexis Gutiérrez that went over the net early.

Pinned in their defensive third, set pieces were critical to Union's game plan with their first coming in minute 13. Kai Wagner provided service while Mbaizo and Lowe drew defenders toward centerfield. The first attempt was unsuccessful but Lowe sprinted for half clearance quickly getting back to Wagner for another whip into box finding Bedoya for header but nothing came of it.

Philadelphia found stroke good luck minute 20 when left post stopped powerful shot distance taken Alexis Gutiérrez but opponents continued lay attack seconds later shot came boot former Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis signed Liga MX side start summer didn't stop there Carlos Rotondi took attempt minute missing right frame Boys Blue registered only shot first half via Tai Baribo minute Israeli forward flicked header net effort wide

Needing win regulation send themselves Knockout Round Cruz Azul continued apply pressure around defensive third defensive mistake timed high press presented La Máquina chance break through Rotondi found himself 1v1 against keeper opted centering pass Giakoumakis recovery run prevented much power behind shot dribbled back second go once again Argentine forward selfless pass back post captain Jose Rivero chaos continued Mbaizo beat blocked allowed Jamaican keeper jump ball

Blake called upon make goal-saving stop minute Rivero slowed sprint net finding far outside box blast three-time Goalkeeper Year adjusted dive left just time get hand shot

Offensive pressure finally paid dividends just before halftime Rotondi found back net minute Mexican side changed attack launching series quick passes counter create overload scoring chance center pass Giakoumakis flicked backward Gutierrez top box instead attempting long range perfectly weighted difficult far post finish sent fans frenzy

Despite deficit determination didn’t falter emerged locker room neither physicality Luis Romo shown yellow poor sportsmanship giving free kick chance double lead Jorge Sanchez darted sideline lock step finding pass combined effort tracking fell save knees nullified attempt

Intensity ramped significantly string scuffles hour mark saw yellow foul moments later both referee book fouled buoyed uptick nearly bagged equalizer ensuing free kick lined yards ripped hard cross far post darting defender hip slow inches short couldn’t redirect frame

Curtin made change sending newly-acquired forward Samuel Adeniran third-ever alongside midfielder Leon Flach replaced fresh legs added more physicality MLS versus Liga MX affair opposite last weekend zero shots goal no shortage action kept pressure powering traffic line drive landed chest thought draw point spot chased long volley tangled inside call official only goal chagrin video assistant referee didn’t intercede well desperately pushed insurance thought patient counter trio passes along yard-box substitute Carlos Rodriguez combined give Rodriguez shot sliced speedy midfield sliding blast contest save proved critical got magic courtesy own inside homegrown Quinn Sullivan chased down cross endline midway between corner flag ripped stopped crashed gloves provided rebound Hungarian jumped deposited upper netting penalty campaign line emerged victorious converted all five attempts spot saved converting rest turns attention knockout rounds face off Round official kick announced conclusion group stage matches Monday evening tickets home sale purchased clicking here

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