March 18 – Club América take a slim one-goal lead into the second leg of their last 16 encounter with Philadelphia Union at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico.
A strike from Brazilian Raphael Veiga (pictured) was enough to push Las Águilas to victory and set up the potential of a Club América vs Inter Miami/Lionel Messi quarter final – assuming both sides win on aggregate.
Club América are record seven times winners of the Champions Cup and this season have already shown they know how to navigate their way through knockout football.
Against CD Olimpia in Round 1 it wasn’t necessarily pretty, but it was a lesson in how to get the job done. A 2-1 win away from home gave way to a 0-0 shut out back in Mexico City.
Club América have another away goal advantage for their home leg against the Union.
Against Defence Force in Round 1, Union were relentless in their 12-0 aggregate drubbing of the Trinidad club – the goals were shared between seven players.
But playing Club América is a very different proposition for a Union team in its fourth Round of 16 appearance in the Champions Cup.
Veiga was the spearhead of the Club América attack and it wasn’t until his substitution that Union began to find their own threat, but with Brian Rodriguez and Alex Zendejas on the Mexican club’s flanks there was just a little too much quality for the Union to overcome.
Union have a youthful look to their line-up and in Cavan Sullivan at just 16 years of age, do have a big star in the making and who proved in the first leg he can be the difference in big games. But if Union are to progress they must score goals and they need at least two if they are to get into the next round.
Union come into the match needing a lift after a 3-1 loss away to Atlanta in the MLS last weekend. Club América had a comfortable 2-0 win over Mazatlan in Liga MX.
Last 16 first leg: Philadelphia Union 0 Club América 1
Second leg, March 18: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City. KO 9pm (ET)