Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Despite a strong showing in the beginning of the second half, the Union fell 2-1 on aggregate to Club América in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The Union started the game down 1-0 in aggregate after a first leg lost at home in Chester, and given their poor performance that night, the deck felt stacked against them. But as Coach Bradley Carnell said in the pre-match press conference, “we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain…” Unfortunately, except for some exciting play in the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Union looked lost and out ideas.

First Half

A lackluster Union started the match, seeming to lack confidence and bite. Except for flashes down the right side, the Union looked disjointed. The press, when it was in effect, was easily bypassed, and Sery on the right looked overmatched. Wayward passes out of the back went to empty space or directly to the opponents. Club América seemed equally at ease going through the center or spreading the attack wide. In just the 6th minute, Sery gave away a poor foul in a dangerous area, and Club América converted. Viega sent a strong free kick toward the near post. Dorado rose, almost uncontested, and nodded it home to make it 2-0 on aggregate.

The game looked like it had gone out of reach in the 22nd minute, but Zedejas’ goal was chalked off for offside. In the 29th minute there was some nice movement and interplay from Cavan Sullivan that led to a free kick near the corner of the box for the Boys in Blue, but Iloski’s free kick went tamely to goalkeeper, Rodolfo Cota. Club América continued to find joy throughout the field, and the Union were on the back foot.

In the first minute of stoppage time, some beautiful interplay, again from Sullivan, looked likely to bring the Union an equalizer when Sullivan found Korzeniewski in front of goal, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet, and the chance went begging.

Second Half

Carnell made two substitutions to start the half, Damiani for Korzeniewski and Frankie Westfield came in at left back, sending Harriel to the right side; Geiner Martínez was subbed off, and Sery Larsen was moved to center back. There was an immediate spark to the team. The Union started with confidence and purpose and suddenly, it was Club América on the back foot. The Union were winning second balls and turnovers in dangerous areas. An ugly yellow card foul on Nathan Harriel in the Club América box brought Jesus Bueno to the spot, where he converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, and passing in his shot.

The goal seemed to galvanize the Union players. They played confidently and more composed, making good first passes out the back and finding channels. There was some smart intricate play, and Westfield began making overlapping runs on the left. Club América looked nervy, a complete flip-flop from the first half. In the 60th minute, Westfield got in behind the Club América defense, where some scrappy play from both Westfield and Cavan Sullivan won the ball and sent it across. Harriel, rushing on was not able to keep his shot down.

The strong, confident play continued, even after Danley Jean Jacques was substituted for Sullivan, with still more chances for the Union. A second away goal, if the game remained tied, would send the Union through to the next round. And they looked like the side who would score the next goal.

But in the 71st minute, Club América made a triple change that quickly seemed to douse the flame lit under the Union. The play slowed down, and Club América took control of the game. The remaining minutes were a chippy affair, and though the Union looked better than they had in the first half, it wasn’t enough.

3 Points:

• Players and tactics have regressed. The press is too easily bypassed. The Union’s ‘D-mids’ (Jean-Jacques, Lukić, and Bueno) have each been culpable at times, and during the first half Club América had free reign to play through the middle, or out wide, stretching the defense. For their part, the defense, at least with Martínez at center back, make poor first passes out that either go astray or directly to opponents. In attack, the players are frequently not on the same page.
• Cavan Sullivan, when not double-teamed (and sometimes even when he is) is a difference-maker. Why is he not playing full games?
• Consistent Performances. If the Union can summon a performance like the first 25 minutes of this second half, why can’t they start that way and sustain it?

Referee: Héctor Saíd Martínez Sorto
Assistant Referees: Walter Lopez, Christian Ramirez
Fourth Official: Nelson Salgado

Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick, Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Geiner Martínez (Frankie Westfield 45′), Japhet Sery Larsen (Philippe Ndinga 81′) , Jovan Lukic, Jesus Bueno, Milan Iloski, Cavan Sullivan (Danley Jean Jacques 63′), Indiana Vassilev (Malik Jakupovic 72′), Stas Korzeniowski (Bruno Damiani 45′).

Substitutes not used: Andre Blake, George Marks, Finn Sundstrom, Giovanny Sequera, Alejandro Bedoya, Ben Bender, Jeremy Rafanello, Malik Jakupovic.

Club América: Rodolfo Cota, Cristian Borja, Sebastian Cáceres (Ramón Juarez, 45’), Israel Reyes, Aaron Mejía, Brian Rodríguez (Lima, 71’) , Érick Sánchez, Rodrigo Dourado, Álex Zendejas, Raphael Veiga (Thiago Espinosa, 72’), Patricio Salas (Raúl Zúñiga, 71’).

Substitutes not used: Néstor Araujo, Alan Cervantes, Alexis Gutierrez, César Lugo, Fernando Tapia, Miguel Vazquez, Jonathan dos Santos, Kevin Álvarez.

GOALS/ASSISTS
AME – Rodrigo Dourado (R. Veiga) 6’
PHI – Jesus Bueno 49’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
AME – Sebastián Cáceres (caution) 29’
PHI – Philippe Ndinga (caution) 83’ 

The Union will look to get on track Saturday, March 2, when they face Chicago Fire FC at Subaru Park (4:30 p.m. ET / Apple TV).