Union Chase Glory in Concacaf Champions Showdown

The Philadelphia Union have tasted Concacaf Champions Cup glory before, and they’ll be hungry to replicate that success as they visit CF Pachuca on Tuesday for the decisive second leg of their round of 16 tie.

The two teams battled to a gritty 0-0 stalemate in the first leg in Philadelphia last week. While the Union failed to find the breakthrough, their defensive resilience was remarkable as they became the first team to shut out the free-scoring Pachuca side since November 2023. Veteran goalkeeper Andre Blake was in inspired form, making three crucial saves.

Union coach Jim Curtin was forced into a makeshift central defensive partnership, with regular starters Damion Lowe and Jack Elliott suspended following their dismissals in the previous round against Deportivo Saprissa. However, both will be available for selection in the return fixture in Mexico.

Curtin has also confirmed that in-form striker Julian Carranza will lead the line for the visitors. The Argentine hitman has been in scintillating form in 2024, already netting four goals including a second-half hat-trick away to Saprissa to fire the Union into this round.

Pachuca, meanwhile, opted to heavily rotate their side for their Liga MX clash against Queretaro at the weekend, making 10 changes from the team that started the first leg. Despite dominating proceedings and registering 18 shots, they fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat.

That result could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Union, with Pachuca’s fringe players likely to have blown off some rustiness ahead of Tuesday’s crucial continental tie. The home side will be wary of the threat posed by the Union after last season’s heroics.

In the 2023 Champions Cup, Curtin’s men produced one of the competition’s great upsets by earning a 2-2 draw away to Atlas FC after being 2-0 down, with Carranza netting a decisive brace to send them through on away goals following a 1-1 stalemate in Philadelphia.

That triumph will give the Union confidence that they can once again defy the odds in hostile Mexican territory. An away goal for the MLS outfit would leave Pachuca needing to win the game outright to progress, piling the pressure on the home side.

With the Union’s suspended duo available again and talisman Carranza hitting peak form, they will back themselves to expose any complacency from Pachuca and book a historic quarter-final berth. Another famous continental night could be in store for the adventurous American side.