MIAMI.- Club America and the Philadelphia Union meet for the first time in the clubs’ histories on Thursday, opening their two legged Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinal at the Estadio Azteca.
América got to this stage by battling past Olimpia in the Round of 16 and then seeing off an MLS side, the Portland Timbers. While Felipe Mora’s late penalty for the Timbers in the first leg sent the series to the Azteca tie at 1-1, a Federico Viñas double plus a goal from Leo Suárez gave Las Aguilas a 3-1 win in the home leg and a 4-2 win on aggregate.
Santiago Solari’s men since have started their league campaign undefeated, with their last loss stretching back to May when Pachuca eliminated them from the Liga MX playoffs.
While Henry Martin is only now returning from the Olympics, as are goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, midfielder Sebastian Cordova and defender Jorge Sanchez, and Viñas won’t be fit for the first leg, other forwards have picked up the slack. Roger Martinez scored from the spot against Puebla and Mauro Lainez has been a key creator, something that will be key as América looks to impose as large of an advantage as possible in the first leg before traveling to Subaru Park, home of the Union, for leg two.
The Union will look to become the third MLS team to move past a Liga MX club in the SCCL semifinals, with only Toronto FC in 2018 and Los Angeles FC in 2020 advancing from the nine previous semifinal meetings between teams from the North American leagues.
As the only MLS team left, Jim Curtin has put a huge emphasis on preparation for this match, resting players in the Union’s most recent MLS contest even with the match taking place later in the week than many SCCL fixtures typically do. Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, forwards Kacper Przybylko and Cory Burke and defender Kai Wagner are among the players who should be fresh for the contest.
Even well-rested, the Union know they’re in or a challenge. Road teams are just 5-32-9 in SCCL semifinals, but the Union have been strong on the road in this tournament. The MLS side will take confidence from its 3-0 away win against Atlanta United in the first leg of the quarterfinals and a 1-0 win on the road against Saprissa in the Round of 16 to open the tournament.
- It will be the 114th match between MLS and Liga MX teams in the SCCL
- Record: 62 wins for Liga MX,27 for Major League Soccer and 24 draws.
- The ninth semifinal between Liga MX and MLS teams. In 7 opportunities the Liga MX team has qualified and 2 opportunities the MLS team has qualified. (Both against Club America).
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