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Union bounced by Club América, 2-0, in Champions League semifinal

The Mexican team did not score until the 79th minute at Subaru Park when Nicolas Benedetti delivered a goal.

Kacper Przybylko, center and Cory Burke, right, of the Philadelphia Union collide as they try to head the ball into the goad against Salvador Reyes of Club América in the 2nd half on Sept. 15, 2021 at Subaru Stadium in Chester, PA. in a Champions League semifinals.
Kacper Przybylko, center and Cory Burke, right, of the Philadelphia Union collide as they try to head the ball into the goad against Salvador Reyes of Club América in the 2nd half on Sept. 15, 2021 at Subaru Stadium in Chester, PA. in a Champions League semifinals.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
    by Joe Tansey, For The Inquirer
    Published 

For 78 minutes on Wednesday night, the Union’s dream of advancing to the Concacaf Champions League final was still alive.

Club América’s Nicolas Benedetti ended the Union’s five-month excursion into continental play with a game-winning strike in the 79th minute. Henry Martini finished off the victory for the Mexican side in the 93rd minute with a close-range strike.

Club América defeated the Union, 2-0, Wednesday at Subaru Park and by 4-0 on the two-leg aggregate to move on to the Champions League final against either Cruz Azul or Monterrey, both rivals from Liga MX.

Union manager Jim Curtin installed the right game plan for the semifinal second leg, but much like the rest of the 2021 campaign, the Major League Soccer club was devoid of goals.

Jamiro Monteiro had the best opportunity to put the Union on the score sheet and attempt to flip the balance of the matchup in the 50th minute from the penalty spot.

Kacper Przybylko earned the spot kick after a clever one-two play with Cory Burke down the right wing. Przybylko was taken down by Club América’s Bruno Valdez.

Monteiro stepped to the spot and chose to shoot to the right of the net. That was where Guillermo Ochoa, who is also the Mexican national team goalkeeper, denied the shot and pushed it onto the crossbar.

» READ MORE: Club América manager Santiago Solari returns to the Philly area for the Concacaf Champions League, 27 years after starring at Stockton College

Ochoa then got off the ground quickly to deny Burke’s rebound opportunity from an acute angle near the right post.

Four minutes later, Przybylko had another attempt from close range denied by the leaping Ochoa to keep the Union off the score sheet.

The Union continued to push for their first goal of the series throughout the second half, but they were unable to break the Club América back line that was reinforced during the final stanza with defensive substitutions.

Curtin’s club started its CCL quest in April and defeated Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa and MLS rival Atlanta United on its path to the semifinals.

The focus for Curtin and Co. now turns to the playoff push in league play.

Philadelphia is back in Subaru Park on Sunday to face Orlando City, and Atlanta United comes to Chester next Saturday.

The results across MLS in the last week-and-a-half pushed the Union down to ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They are one point out of the final playoff place currently occupied by Atlanta United and three points away from one of the top four spots that guarantee at least one home game.