In a rematch of the 2022 MLS Cup final, the Philadelphia Union have a chance to exact a little revenge on Los Angeles FC when the two sides meet at Subaru Park on Wednesday in the opening leg of their CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) semi-final.
The Black and Gold eased past the Vancouver Whitecaps in the previous round, winning the tie 6-0, while a late goal in the second leg of their tie versus Atlas sent Philly into the semis 3-2 on aggregate.
Match preview
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It has been a difficult start to the domestic campaign for Philadelphia, but it looks like they are rounding into form as many had expected, putting together a convincing 4-2 victory at home to Toronto this past weekend, moving them back into a playoff position.
Manager Jim Curtin said afterwards that their opening 45 minutes versus the Reds was the best he had seen from them all year domestically, as they had a three-goal cushion heading into the interval, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions.
This team is rarely satisfied with just one goal, pouring it on numerous times in MLS, with at least four goals in a league fixture on 10 occasions since July 2022.
They have been much sharper defensively in the Champions League than in MLS, conceding in just one of their four CCL affairs so far, none at Subaru Park.
Wednesday will be the first time they play in the semi-finals of this tournament since 2021, when they dropped a pair of 2-0 decisions to America.
The Union have only lost one match all year at Subaru Park since the new campaign began in late February, posting four clean sheets in all competitions, while they have never lost to LAFC on home soil.
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They were the last MLS team standing in 2022 and are the only one left without a defeat in the new season, as Los Angeles FC look just as good if not better so far this year.
With 18 points after eight matches, it is their best start to an MLS campaign, and they have been equally brilliant in the CCL, winning three encounters by a 3-0 score.
LA are in the semi-finals of this competition for the first time since 2020, when they eliminated the former two-time CCL winners America, only to squander a second-half advantage in the final, losing 2-1 versus Tigres.
In a competition where away goals still count, Steve Cherundolo's men have performed splendidly on the road all season, outscoring their two CCL opponents (L.D. Alajuelense and the Vancouver Whitecaps) 6-0 away from home.
Last Saturday was just the second time in all competitions this season that LAFC conceded the opening goal in a match, though they came on strong in the final 45 minutes to earn a 1-1 result at Nashville SC, becoming the only team in MLS history in the past 20 years to go unbeaten through their opening seven league fixtures multiple times.
Eight of their 10 Champions League goals this season have come in the second half, though they have conceded the opening goal to the Union in three of five meetings.
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Team News
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Leon Flach returned to the Philly lineup over the weekend after previously sustaining a pelvic issue, replacing Jack McGlynn just past the hour mark, Kai Wagner seems to have recovered from his hamstring strain, playing the full 90 minutes at full-back versus Toronto, while Damion Lowe was on the bench with a hamstring injury of his own and could be questionable for Wednesday.
Mikael Uhre had a hat-trick for the Union this past weekend, while a brace from Julian Carranza in their second leg quarter-final tie versus Atlas put them through to the CCL semi-finals, as he, Daniel Gazdag and Andres Perea all have two goals so far in this competition.
Jack Elliott scored twice for the Union in the MLS Cup final last season, while Gazdag, Wagner and Jose Martinez failed to convert from the penalty spot, sending the Union to another heartbreaking defeat.
Maxime Crepeau is the only injury concern for LAFC heading into this fixture as he remains out after suffering a broken leg in the MLS Cup final last year.
Denis Bouanga ended a two-match scoreless drought on Saturday with the equaliser for the Black and Gold, putting him up to seven for the domestic campaign, while he leads this competition with five goals, two more than Carlos Vela, who notched a pair in their second leg triumph versus Vancouver earlier this month, with the other strike in that game coming courtesy of Jose Cifuentes.
Kellyn Acosta and Jesus Murillo each found the back of the net in their 2022 MLS Cup triumph, while a Gareth Bale header late in the second half of extra time sent that game into a penalty shootout, setting the stage for John McCarthy to be the hero, stopping two spot-kicks, with Ilie Sanchez put home the winner.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Bedoya, Martinez; McGlynn; Gazdag, Carranza, Uhre
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Hollingshead, Murillo, Long, Palacios; Cifuentes, Sanchez, Acosta; Vela, Opoku, Bouanga
We say: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Los Angeles FC
If there is a team that can slow down the balanced LA attack, Philly might be the best bet, and they seem to be peaking at the right time, while showing lots of attacking quality at the moment.
Just like in that epic MLS Cup final a year ago, this tie could go down to the wire, but home field and momentum may favour the Union in the opening leg, a team that have faced much stiffer challenges in the CCL this season when compared to the Black and Gold.
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