Needing a win to advance into the Leagues Cup knockout stage, Cruz Azul will visit Subaru Park on Sunday to face the Philadelphia Union for the first time.
Philly won their opener 1-0 over Charlotte FC, advancing into the next phase after Los Cementeros played to a 0-0 draw with the Crown before losing on penalties.
Match preview
© Imago
For a second successive campaign, the Union are through to the knockout portion of this tournament, with a chance to improve on their third-place finish last year.
This side have won their last three matches played across all competitions while maintaining a 100% record in the group stage of this tournament.
Their opening victory was the first time that the Union had posted a clean sheet in a Leagues Cup group fixture, while they have not conceded in back-to-back competitive contests.
Jim Curtin's men have won their last three competitive games played at Subaru Park and are undefeated in four successive home matches across all competitions.
Sunday will be their ninth Leagues Cup affair in Chester, with Philadelphia losing only one of those contests, 4-1 to Inter Miami in the 2023 semi-finals.
The U managed to win their four previous Leagues Cup encounters versus sides from Liga MX by a combined score of 13-3.
© Imago
A shootout loss in their opening Leagues Cup contest this year has Cruz Azul on the brink of an early exit from this competition.
Martin Anselmi's men are a point behind Charlotte for second in the East 4 table, with the Crown holding the first tiebreaker advantage because of their shootout triumph against the Mexicans.
That means the club from Mexico City must win this match in normal time or on penalties to advance into the knockout portion of this tournament for a second successive season.
On Wednesday, they failed to score in a second straight Leagues Cup encounter dating back to 2023, though they collected their first-ever clean sheet in the group portion of this tournament.
Defensively, this side have been rock-solid, conceding just once in their last six matches played across all competitions (1-1 draw with Toluca on matchday four of the 2024 Apertura).
Los Maquina have not won a competitive fixture on American soil after 90 minutes since defeating Tigres in the 2019 Leagues Cup final by a score of 2-1.
Team News
© Reuters
In their opener, Isiah LeFlore was sidelined for Philly with a right knee injury, while Jack Elliott, Alejandro Bedoya and Sam Adeniran were the three newcomers who were not in the starting 11 when they defeated Nashville SC 3-0.
Nathan Harriel and Jack McGlynn will not be available as they are both with the United States team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A 33rd-minute strike by Tai Baribo was all the Union would need to defeat Charlotte, as Andre Blake did not have to make a single stop to collect his first clean sheet in the group portion of this tournament.
Cruz Azul were minus defender Carlos Vargas in their opening game because of a broken foot, and Gabriel Fernandez was sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
There was only one newcomer in their starting 11 against the Crown who did not begin their Liga MX encounter versus Toluca, with Andres Montano replacing Alexis Gutierrez.
Kevin Mier picked up a fourth clean sheet in his last five competitive fixtures on Wednesday, but Carlos Rodriguez and Luis Romo failed to convert their spot kicks, leading to their defeat.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Lowe, Wagner; Bueno; Q. Sullivan, Rafanello; Gazdag; Baribo, Uhre
Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:
Mier; Sanchez, Ditta, Romo, Piovi, Rotondi; Rodriguez, Faravelli, Antuna; Rivero, Giokoumakis
We say: Philadelphia Union 0-0 Cruz Azul (Philadelphia win on penalties)
Both sides have been solid defensively in recent outings, and if it is as close as we anticipate, we believe the Union will show a little more poise when needed with the pressure on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
