Photo by Marjorie Elzey

Who: Philadelphia Union (MLS) vs Cruz Azul (Liga MX)

What: Leagues Cup East 4 Group Stage Match

Where: Subaru Park

When: Sunday August 4th, 8pm

Watch: Free on Apple TV, also available on FS1 and UniMas

Whistle: TBA

Following the Union’s victory over Charlotte and Cruz Azul’s subsequent defeat in the Queen City, the Union are already through to the knockouts in the 2024 Leagues Cup. Meanwhile, La Máquina need to win to punch their ticket to the Round of 32, at the expense of Charlotte.

Scouting Report: Cruz Azul

This game will mark the first ever contest between the Union and Cruz Azul. As such, there is no history or prior fixtures to draw on. While Cruz Azul might not be the traditional Liga MX powerhouses most Americans think of, they should not be taken lightly. 

They have won 9 Liga MX titles but six of those came in the 70’s. Recently, they have won the 2021 Liga MX Clausura, the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2019 (Anyone else not remember Leagues Cup being a thing then?) and, perhaps most notably, the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League.

Although this time of year is the beginning of the Liga MX format, Las Liebres sit atop the standings, going 3-0-1 while scoring 9 goals and only conceding 1.

Cruz Azul is managed by Argentinian Martín Anselmi. He’s a younger manager, and is only 39 years old. But, he got started early, amassing work experience all across South America. He achieved a great record with Ecuadorian club Independiente Del Valle, winning the 2022 Copa Sudamericana and Copa Ecuador before being snatched up by Los Cementeros. In the 2024 Clausura, he guided Cruz Azul to a second placed regular season finish before falling in the final to juggernaut Club America. 

Despite a lack of intra-club history, there will be at least one familiar face in their lineup. Former Atlanta United DP Giorgios Giakoumakis now plays his trade for Los Celestes. The Greek striker was a formidable threat in MLS, racking up 24 goals and 7 assists in just 41 games for the Five Stripes. His form has continued so far into the beginning of his time in Mexico, appearing thrice, scoring 2 and adding 1 helper through the first 4 games of the Apertura. It should be noted that he played twice for ATL against the Union and failed to score across two starts and 103 minutes, registering 3 shots (1 on target) and a dive so egregious that even Ted Unkel opted to wave off the penalty he awarded after review.

Aside from him, Cruz Azul can rely on club captain Ignacio Rivero. The versatile Uruguayan is listed as a midfielder but can apparently play almost any position on the field. He has played in the center, out wide, along the defensive line, but most recently went the full 90 up top for La Maquina in their opening Leagues Cup fixture against Charlotte. That match ended 0-0, as Cruz Azul were suffocated by Charlotte’s low-block, before going down in the shootout- but Rivero converted his penalty.

Overall, Cruz Azul prevents a threatening challenge, even on short rest, but one that the Union have the luxury of taking as seriously as they want, being that they are already qualified.

Injury Report: N/a

Suspended: N/a

International Duty: N/a

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

Things are finally starting to look up in Union land. After a miserable winless drought that lasted 60 days, over the past few weeks the skies have opened up and blessed the Philly Phaithful with a bountiful harvest of W’s. It’s only been a run of 3 wins, but the surrounding context of those results is what makes them hit so good. Most of the starters are back, and the ones that aren’t put up some great performances at the Olympics. Blake is healthy. The defense is back to form. Martinez is playing lights out. Baribo has emerged. Bedoya isn’t being relied on for the full 90 every game. It seems like the old Union is back (the recent old Union not the old old Union), and better than ever. 

With that being said, realistically, it’s only been three games. Most of the season is gone and Jim Curtin and the Boys in Blue haven’t left themselves a lot of margin for error. The Leagues Cup is probably their best chance to qualify for next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup, outside of an unlikely- but still technically possible- victory in the MLS Cup.  

This match in particular is a bit of a write-off seeing as the Union are already through but Curtin typically treats Cup competitions seriously. He may want to keep what is pretty much the ‘A’ team out there, especially since this is the first time in a long time that’s even been a possibility. 

Against Charlotte, the Union grinded out a classic 1-0 gritty defensive victory, Curtin’s favorite kind of victory, and it was the first time all year they’ve managed it. Cruz Azul will prevent a much stiffer challenge on the attack than Charlotte, especially since they need to win, but the Union are finally rounding into form and won’t be easily pushed over like earlier in the season.

Injury Report: Leon Flach (Questionable), Isaiah Le Flore (Out)

Suspended: N/a

International Duty: Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn

Key Matchup: Diamond vs Wing-Backs

While Anselmi is a lot more tactically versatile than Curtin, he appears to favor formations with either 5 or 3 at the back. In the modern game this usually means a team will employ ‘Wing-Backs’. Curtin has sometimes done this with mixed success (IE the 3-5-2). If Cruz Azul does come out like that, the danger the Union faces comes from this: the width. The 4-1-2-1-2 Diamond is a very narrow formation, especially in midfield. If faced with a team that can bomb down the flanks with wingers or wing-backs it can cause all sorts of problems, namely stuff like the center mids being drawn out of position, exposing the defense, which is something that has plagued the Union this season. Alternatively, it could leave Cruz Azul open through the middle to counter-attacks which is basically the Union’s bread and butter.

Player to Watch: Andre Blake

Normally you wouldn’t want to have the goalie as your ‘player to watch’ in a game that you have any chance of winning but Andre Blake isn’t normal, he’s superhuman. Also, Cruz Azul is just genuinely a good side and even in a regular MLS game Blake typically makes at least one save that no other goalie in North America could make. Blake shouldn’t be as busy in this as he was against Pachuca or Club America a couple years ago but he’s gonna have to do the extraordinary once or twice to keep the Union in it. It’s gonna be great.

Prediction: 2-1 Union

Cruz Azul score first, through Giakoumakis. But the Union, for the first time since April 6th against Nashville, score twice to come from behind and win the game. Tai Baribo nets in back to back games and Jose Martinez gets his first of the year with a rocket from outside the 18 to get the win for the Boys in Blue.