Union, LAFC fight to a 1-1 draw in Chester

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Chester, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union know what is at stake now. The Union now need the first goal in the next game against LAFC.

In the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinal, the Union and LAFC had a 1-1 draw at Subaru Park on Wednesday night. Due to LAFC’s late goal, the Union need to eliminate the away goal tiebreaker.

Right now, despite the 1-1 draw, due to the away goal tiebreaker, LAFC leads 2-1.

If they score first against LAFC next week, then the game would be back to even in aggregate’s. Union head coach Jim Curtin knows that his squad can compete in Los Angeles.

Last November in the MLS Cup, the Union scored three goals against LAFC. Unfortunately, for Union fans, LAFC also scored three goals that eventually sent the game to penalty kicks. LAFC won in PKs.

Both teams had multiple chances in the first half. However, things started to change near the end of regulation.

LAFC player Kellyn Acosta had a hand ball in the box in the 86th minute. This led to Daniel Gazdag converting past former Union goalkeeper John McCarthy, who has the ire of Union fans for his play last November in the MLS Cup.

In the last two Concacaf Champions League games in Chester, Pennsylvania, Gazdag scored on a penalty kick. He also had a penalty kick against Atlas FC.

Acosta made up for his mistake a short time later. He accounted for LAFC’s lone goal when he scored past Union keeper Andre Blake in the 91st minute.

These two teams will complete the second leg of this Concacaf Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, May 2nd. The game from Los Angeles will be on FS1 at 10 pm EST.