CHESTER, Pa.— On a warm and beautiful evening along the banks of the Delaware river on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Union and Liga MX giant, Club América faced off in the first leg of their Concacaf round of 16 match.
Many of the Mexican powerhouse’s supporters were in attendance pre-match, which made for a festive an energetic experience around Subaru Park.
And despite a very close and physical match, a Raphael Veiga 20th minute goal would prove to be the winner on the evening with the Liga MX squad earning a 1-0 victory in the first leg of this match up.
With only having one match over the last seven days, Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell used some rotation in his starting eleven to start of the match.
“They get one moment and score a goal,” said Bradley Carnell post match. “We have a similar moment in the first half and unfortunately we just get the corner out of it. I thought we put on a real proud display in the second half where we pinned them in. I think we had 11 shots and couldn’t reward ourselves.”
New club left back Philippe Ndinga, who recently arrived on Friday, received his first start for his new club. Andrew Rick returned to net as it seemed to be the plan with the goalkeeper rotation so far in this competition. Geiner Martínez, Olwethu Makhanya, and Nathan Harriel made the rest of the back line with Ndinga.
On how he felt after his start, Ndinga shared his feelings post match.
“I think it’s good. It’s good,” he said. “The pain is a little bit more for me. I mean, I play maybe a few more laps, but it’s good.”
In the midfield, Jovan Lukic and Jesus Bueno got the start at the six position with Cavan Sullivan, Milan Iloksi, and Agustín Anello in the attacking the position. Up top, Ezekiel Alladoh got the start for the Union.
The electric atmosphere brought by the visiting América fans was felt upon kickoff of the match as both teams traded a few chances early in which the respected defenses held firm.
Following Geiner Martinez picking up a yellow card in the 18th minute, Raphael Veiga opened the scoring for Club América in the 20th minute, exciting the visiting supporters whose eruption of celebration deafened Subaru Park.
The Union would have their first chance in the 30th minute following a foul by América on IIoski. Milan’s attempt would drift wide of the far post onto a charging Jesús Bueno, who crossed it back over to Iloski. He then tried to receive the cross, but it was challenged by América, leading to a breakaway by América which the Philadelphia Union’s defense stood tall.
Play was halted for a time as Club América’s keeper, Luis Malagón was down with what was reportedly an Achilles injury according to reliable outlets, though at the time of this nothing official had been released. Rodolfo Cota replaced him in the 42nd minute after the starter was stretchered off.
“Just want to wish Malagón all the best in his recovery,” said Carnell. “You know, put aside the game for now and just wish him a speedy recovery.”
The Union almost came away with a goal in first half stoppage time as Sullivan fed a great ball into Alladoh, who spun around and rocketed a shot right over the top of the net. Philadelphia would continue to build momentum into the stoppage time as IIoski snapped a nice free kick that just missed a diving Martínez as he attempted to put a header in the net.
Carnell went to the bench in the second half, pulling Alladoh and Sullivan for Frankie Westfield and Bruno Damiani to start the final half in Chester.
On the club’s overall second half performance, Rick shared his thoughts on how club adjusted to the match.
“I thought, after that, we responded really well,” he said. “In the second half, I don’t think they really had anything going for them at all. Yeah. I mean, I thought it was a good it was a good performance, but we just needed a goal that was missing.”
Anello picked up a yellow card early in the second on a similar play that América would not get carded for earlier in the match , bringing the ire of some of the Philadelphia players.
He had another great opportunity to find space outside the 18 only to miss the shot just wide of the net. América would counter on the following sequence with Eric Sanchez.
“We know that it’s just a little hump that we need to get over” said Anello post match. “The team needs to be together. We know the quality players that we have, so it’s just a thing of still being together and waiting for the right moment that with time and the work that we’re putting behind it, we’re going to find that success.”
The 63rd minute saw more Union substitutions in Danley Jean Jacques and Indiana Vassilev for Martínez and Anello.
Westfield and Damiani almost connected on what could have been a potentially game-tying goal, and Westfield’s cross was true, however, Damiani’s foot was not as the volley from inside the box would go over the net as the groans of the River End echoed on the missed opportunity.
As the match drew into the 80th minute, Indiana Vassilev would have two key chances to draw the game level, the second being the most opportune, but the midfielder was unable to finish either chances as the Club America fans grew louder and louder, even setting off smoke at one point late.
Despite a flurry of chances in the five minutes of stoppage time, the Union were unable capitalize on the chances, and the final score of 1-0 stood.
Philadelphia will now have to regroup for the difficult second leg next week at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico. Should the Union wish to advance, the squad will have some work to do, have given up an away goal and kept clean at home.
“I think that in this game proved that we can play against these guys with the ball,” Andrew Rick mentioned looking ahead to the second leg.
“We’re good enough to create chances and do everything that we want to do and kind of impose our style of play on them, and we have nothing to lose at this point.”
But we will cross that bridge next week, as for now, the Union will flip back to league play as they head to Atlanta this Saturday, still searching for their first win in league play in 2026 as they take on Atlanta United on Saturday at 3:15 pm.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
The One Team We Agree On 
Leave a comment