An all-MLS Concacaf Champions League semifinals series officially awaits in late April and early May, as the Philadelphia Union advanced past Liga MX's Atlas FC via a 2-2 draw (3-2 aggregate victory) Wednesday evening in leg two of their quarterfinals series.
The result at Mexico's Estadio Jalisco sends Philadelphia toward a rematch of last year's epic MLS Cup final against LAFC, who cruised past Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6-0 on aggregate in their quarterfinals series.
With Philadelphia clinging to a 1-0 aggregate lead after leg one, Atlas got their equalizing goal early, striking for their first just 11 minutes into Wednesday's contest. Julián Quiñones provided the finishing touch, running onto an assist from Ozziel Herrera and converting a first-time finish past Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake.
But the Union weathered the early body blow, getting a monumental road goal from Julián Carranza in the 28th minute after Video Review. The Argentine striker restored the aggregate lead with a far-post finish, assisted by a pinpoint ball over the top from homegrown midfielder Jack McGlynn.
Needing two goals to advance, the hosts struck back just on the stroke of halftime. Julio Furch scored a tap-in finish to level the series at 2-2, which came just moments after Philadelphia striker Mikael Uhre couldn't convert an open look in front of goal at the other end.
That set up a frantic second half, as Atlas furiously pressed for a go-ahead goal and put the visitors under waves of pressure. But it was the Union who found the series-clinching breakthrough late through Carranza, notching the dagger at the back end of a clinical counterattack, again confirmed by Video Review.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: They had to weather some classic CCL chaos to do it, but the Union emerged with a massive, hard-earned result that puts them in their second-ever CCL semifinals series, the last time coming in 2021 when they were eliminated by Liga MX foe Club América. With this Liga MX opponent now vanquished following Wednesday's result, Philly get another crack at the same LAFC side that broke their hearts in last year's legendary MLS Cup. The stakes of the all-MLS rematch couldn't be higher when it kicks off in two weeks, as the winner gets a shot at CCL immortality. Seattle Sounders FC won the competition in 2022, ending Liga MX's stretch of dominance, and an MLS club is primed to repeat in 2023.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Atlas were right in the series late into the second half, needing just one goal to flip the result – until Carranza put those hopes to bed.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Both times the Union were on the ropes and in dire need of a goal, Carranza came through in the big moments, showing why he's considered among MLS's most dangerous strikers.
Next Up
- PHI: Saturday, April 15 at Chicago Fire FC | 8:30 pm ET (MLS Season Pass) | MLS regular season
- ATL: Saturday, April 15 vs. Pachuca | 7 pm ET | Liga MX Clausura
