MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with the Philadelphia Union hosting Defence Force FC in the second leg of their Round One series on Thursday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.

The reigning MLS Supporters’ Shield winners are rolling after a 5-nil victory in Trinidad and Tobago. Bruno Damiani led the way with a brace, as Milan Iloski added a goal and assist.

In the four editions the Union have participated in the tournament, the MLS club has never lost an opening match (3-1-0). Philadelphia is now looking to advance out of Round One, as it did in the 2024 tournament against Deportivo Saprissa, 6-5, on aggregate. 

Defence Force FC will be without Joevin Jones due to a red card received in stoppage time of the first leg. The winner of this series will play Liga MX’s Club América in the Round of 16.

Post-Match Data

Coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of the second half for Ezekiel Alladoh, Uruguayan forward Bruno Damiani made an immediate impact by scoring the first of his two goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup and recording the fifth brace by an MLS player in the competition. A Philadelphia Union player had not scored a brace since Argentine Julián Carranza did so against Atlas FC (Apr-12-2023) in the second leg of the Quarterfinals at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara (MEX). The brace also helped Philadelphia Union end a three-match winless streak (L-1 D-2).

Debut and Heaviest Home Defeat for Defence Force

Defence Force FC faced a United States club at home for the first time in tournament history, and the loss became the heaviest defeat suffered by the Trinidadian club at home in all its Concacaf Champions Cup appearances. The club had never conceded more than two goals as host prior to this match.