March 14, 2023
Chester, PA
Tuesday’s game against Alianza FC in the Concacaf Champions League may best have been seen from the warm comfort of the living room. The close to freezing temperatures, high winds, red card, travel and Philadelphia’s home field record combined to give the Union a strong advantage over Alianza.
The first half saw one Philadelphia goal turned away due to an offside call, and a possible foul in the box on Dániel Gazdag by Mario Gonzalez, Alianza’s keeper. Alianza assisted Philadelphia’s cause with Alexis Renderos’s red card in the 40th minute, and in first half stoppage time, Philadelphia’s Damion Lowe scored with a header off of a corner from Kai Wagner. What could have been a 3-0 first half, ended with only a 1-0 lead for the Union.
With a fatigued Alianza, the second half was all-Philadelphia. In the 58th minute, Alianza’s William Canales was called for a hand ball in the penalty area. True to form, Gazdag converted and increased the scoreline to 2-0. At the 65th minute, Andrés Perea subbed in for Alejandro Bedoya and went on to score 2 back-to-back goals in the 81st and 84th minute. By the end, Philadelphia had routed Alianza 4-0.
The Philadelphia Union will face Atlas F.C. after overcoming a first leg deficit of 4-1 by beating C.D. Olimpia 5-4 on aggregate.
Photographs of the Philadelphia game appear below:
Philadelphia’s Joaquín Torres brings a spark to the Union’s offense.
Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner debates the propriety of the offside call on Gazdag’s shot that hit the back of the net.
Damion Lowe’s header off of Wagner’s corner that was the first goal of the night.
The Union’s Jack McGlynn on the ball.
A late sub, Quinn Sullivan makes a quick stop that pulls Alianza’s Henry Romeo off balance.
Andrés Perea dances in celebration after the first of two goals on the evening.
