MIAMI, Florida – The quarterfinal stage of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League kicks off this Tuesday with a pair of teams from Major League Soccer locking horns, as Atlanta United host the Philadelphia Union in their quarterfinal first leg at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Both teams arrived into the two-legged affair with plenty of confidence after their respective performances in the previous round.
Atlanta United used a pair of 1-0 wins to eliminate 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League champions Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica 2-0 on aggregate, while the Union impressed over 180 minutes against Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa in a 5-0 aggregate final.
Tuesday’s contest could mark the perfect time for Atlanta United FW Josef Martinez to get his first goal in 2021. The club’s all-time leading scorer in SCCL history with five goals is still rounding back into fitness following a serious knee injury last year, and after playing just 23 minutes against the Chicago Fire over the weekend in MLS play, Martinez should be rested and ready to go.
Aiding the cause will be Ezequiel Barco, who scored a wondergoal over the weekend against Chicago. Barco has been one of the top performers for Atlanta United thus far in the SCCL, including scoring the lone goal via the penalty spot in the 1-0 win at Alajuelense.
The Union boast plenty of weapons as well, namely Jamiro Monteiro and Kacper Przybylko, who each scored two goals in the series with Saprissa.
For SCCL debutantes Philadelphia, this marks their first ever SCCL quarterfinal, while Atlanta United are in the SCCL quarterfinals for the third straight season and will be seeking a first ever semifinal appearance.
The series also marks the fourth time that a SCCL quarterfinal has pitted two teams from MLS and it is the fifth SCCL knockout round tie between teams from the league, the last coming in 2018 when Toronto FC eliminated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the Round of 16.
