PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Union’s first Concacaf Champions League action in franchise history is going very well.
They’re advancing to the quarterfinals of the CCL after shutting out Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica for the second game in a row — this time, 4-0 at a rainy Subaru Park in Chester in front of limited Union faithful.
The aggregate score of the Round 16 matchup was 5-0 Union. They’ll face Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United in the quarterfinals later this month.
“Really proud of the team’s performance over both legs,” said head coach and Oreland, Pennsylvania native Jim Curtin.
The Union broke things open in the second half with Jamiro Monteiro scoring twice and assisting on Kacper Pryzbylko and Anthony Fontana’s goals.
“When Jamiro is at his max, he’s not defendable,” Curtin said. “You can’t stop him. … We’re lucky to have him here in Philadelphia and we want to bring the best out of him.”
Fontana felt that the Union’s second-half surge deflated Saprissa.
“We knew once we scored the first goal, a lot of them were gonna quit, and that’s what you saw,” he said, “so, happy days.”
Happy days indeed. The franchise is fresh off its first trophy ever — last season’s Supporters’ Shield. Although they had a disappointing early exit from the MLS Cup Playoffs, two wins in Concacaf is a good way to begin the 2021 season.
The Union will begin their MLS schedule Sunday against defending champion Columbus Crew.