First Half

From the opening whistle, Philadelphia played with intent. High pressing, quick ball movement, and aggressive runs in behind immediately pinned Defence Force deep in their own half. The breakthrough came early, settling any nerves and igniting a small but lively home crowd. Martínez opened the scoring in his first start for the Union, meeting a set-piece delivery and firing home confidently in the 7th minute.

Once the first goal hit the net, the floodgates opened. Lukic doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute, and just two minutes later Korzeniowski added his first of the night with a well-worked finish after a quick build-up.

Philadelphia’s midfield dictated tempo, winning second balls and transitioning quickly into attack. The Union’s wide players stretched the field, creating space centrally for late runs and combination play around the box. By halftime, the Union were in full control at 3–0 and the two-legged contest was effectively over. 

Second Half

The second half kicked off with Ben Bender and Sal Olivas replacing Makhanya and Lukic as part of a reshuffle. Up comfortably, the Boys in Blue showed no signs of easing off. Instead, they continued to press and attack with precision. Clinical finishing and sharp movement turned defensive mistakes into goals, and the scoreline steadily ballooned.

Just under three minutes into the half, Stas Korzeniowski scored again, notching his first career brace and celebrating a standout home debut. Ben Bender made it 5–0 in the 53rd minute with a clinical strike after linking play in midfield.

Defence Force struggled to cope with the Union’s pace and physicality, rarely threatening going forward. Philadelphia’s defensive shape limited counterattacking opportunities, and Rick was largely untroubled throughout the night.

Malik Jakupovic came on for Korzeniowski to maintain attacking momentum in the 59th minute. With fifteen minutes remaining in the match, Jesus Bueno entered in place of captain Bedoya to help control midfield in the closing stages. A minute later, Sullivan etched his name into club lore with his first Union goal, a stunning left-footed finish that sent the crowd into a frenzy – or as much of a frenzy the half full stadium could muster. Sullivan capped off his remarkable night by scoring his second goal of the evening to make it 7–0 with two minutes left in the match.

Sullivan was among the bright performers, showing confidence and creativity in the attacking third. His four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) made him the standout star of the night and the youngest American to score in the competition’s history. Veteran leadership in midfield ensured the tempo never dipped, while the back line remained organized to preserve the clean sheet.

PSP’s Three Points 

• Total Control from Start to Finish:  The Union set the tone early and never let up, scoring three times in the opening stages and overwhelming Defence Force with relentless pressure. The 7–0 scoreline (12–0 aggregate) reflected complete dominance in possession, chance creation, and defensive stability.
• Youngsters Step Up: Cavan Sullivan delivered a breakout performance with a brace and multiple goal contributions, becoming the youngest American to score in the competition. The match also featured strong performances from emerging players, showing the Union’s depth and development pipeline.
• It Gets Much Harder: With the 7–0 victory, the Union advance to the Round of 16 where they will face a tough test against Club América of Liga MX — dates and times are expected to be confirmed by Concacaf soon.

  The Union return to MLS action this weekend with a home match against New York City FC – momentum from tonight’s dominant showing could prove invaluable against the team that knocked the Boys in Blue out of the 2025 MLS Playoffs.