Resilient Philadelphia Union Advance to Concacaf Champions League Semifinals

The Union scored twice on the road at Atlas to come out on top in the CCL quarterfinals.

The Philadelphia Union displayed plenty of resilience on their way into the Concacaf Champions League semifinals.

The worst-possible start slowly morphed into an unlikely result thanks to the resiliency throughout the squad.

The Union could have folded once the first Atlas goal struck the back of the net in the 11th minute.

Julian Quinones finished off an attacking move that splintered the Union back line and set the tone for what could have been a huge Atlas win.

After all, that is the game script we have seen time after time with MLS clubs playing in Mexico.

“When we conceded in the first 15 minutes, I felt on the sidelines that we were going to get a very difficult match and have a very, very hard night and our players were going to experience the full Concacaf experience,” Union manager Jim Curtin said.

But the Union did the opposite, as they worked their way into the game and drew level through Julian Carranza in the 28th minute.

The vital away goal seemed to be the turning point for the Union, but then a critical stretch before halftime shook the match again. Mikael Uhre missed a close-range chance and within minutes Atlas was celebrating its second goal.

“I thought we showed a lot of resilience to get the goal. From there, the game got a little crazy. We had the chance to go up 2-1, we miss a big chance and good teams punish you. Atlas punished us right before the half,” Curtin said.

There were countless moments in the second half that made you think the Union were not going to pull through.

Kai Wagner was subbed off at halftime with an apparent tweak of the hamstring injury that kept him out of the previous four games. Olivier Mbaizo got a gift from the soccer gods by avoiding a second yellow card, and that led to Matt Real and Nathan Harriel finishing off the game.

There were also some dangerous Atlas attacks that threatened the Union back line before either ending in easy saves from Andre Blake, or with the ball going out of play for goal kicks.

Real and Harriel rose to the occasion in a very difficult setting to help ease the pressure that Atlas built.

“To sub two defenders is not in my nature and it’s not really a recipe for success, especially on the road,” Curtin said. “I give credit to Nathan and Matt Real for both coming into a difficult situation and doing a great job.”

“For those that don’t know, Damion Lowe wasn’t able to train yet, but was able to be on the bench today. I was a little tentative to use him. Obviously he did a great job on Quinones, so that would’ve been a nice luxury to have. He hadn’t tested the hamstring fully with the group. The subs were what they were and I think the guys stepped in and did a really good job.” Curtin said.

Carranza’s 78th-minute tally finished off the tie, and everything unraveled for Atlas from that point.

“To get two goals on the road in Mexico is very rare,” Curtin said. “I’ve experienced this as a player and as a coach and I can say the emotions on the sidelines are much harder as a coach. Credit to Atlas. They are a true champion. They came at us over and over again. It was a really difficult match where we grew a lot as a team and learned a lot about ourselves.”

The Union’s performance was a remarkable display of the character instilled within the club. We saw it on display in a losing effort in MLS Cup when they kept throwing punches with LAFC.

And now that brings the Union to yet another clash of the MLS titans over two matches with LAFC in the CCL semifinals.

The Union are one of the few teams who can play with LAFC, no matter how high the California club’s level is, when they are playing at their best.

Wednesday’s performance in Guadalajara produced a lot of things the Union can build on.

Although they did not hold a clean sheet, the Union reorganized and trusted their structure in the second half, especially when Real entered the fray. The defensive level did not drop off, which is also a credit to the depth the club has bragged about building for years.

Uhre and Carranza were not perfect on the night, but they showed up in big moments to make sure their transgressions in the final third were erased. Uhre had the big miss at the end of the first half and he got in Carranza’s way on an attacking buildup prior to the second goal.

But Uhre rebounded and provided Carranza with an assist on the game-tying, and quarterfinal-clinching goal.

The buildup to the second goal was not just important for Uhre, who has gone through some early-season struggles, but for Leon Flach as well. Flach hustled over to the left wing and played a perfect ball to Uhre to set the attack in motion.

Flach has been criticized for his lack of offensive playmaking skills, and while he is still not on Jack McGlynn’s level in that department, he showed that he can deliver a quality pass in a time of need.

The resiliency on display for 90 minutes is what provides every Union fan, coach and player with the hope that they can be the club that finishes on top in the CCL, and it was a welcome sight after a season that has had its fair share of shortcomings.

“The Champions League is a really special competition. It’s the biggest trophy on our continent and we want to push and try to go for it,” Curtin said.

“Let’s be honest. It’s a competition that has been completely dominated by Liga MX. We finally broke through with Seattle’s win last year and the hope this year is that an MLS team can lift that trophy. I’d prefer it be us than LAFC,” Curtin said.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union.