Cruz Azul fights elimination and has a chance to finish first in its group when it meets the Philadelphia Union on Sunday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The Clausura 2024 runners-up, and current first place team in the Apertura season, in Liga MX, La Maquina started its Leagues Cup campaign with a nil-nil draw against Charlotte FC. It was the North Carolina club that won the penalty shootout, 4-2, to take the additional point.
The Mexico City side must at least draw to advance. A Cruz Azul win would put the Mexicans at the top of the group, sending the Union to second.
“When you talk about Cruz Azul, you talk about a top league MX team,” said Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin. “They're in first place in their league. That form is carried over to the Leagues Cup.”
“A team that loves to have possession, like Cruz Azul is very good with the ball, very good at creating chances. A team like the Union, who's good on the counterattack and dangerous that way. It's a little bit of a clash of styles. It will be difficult. I know there'll be a lot of Cruz Azul fans here, but I know there'll be a lot of Union fans too, so that makes for a great atmosphere,” Curtin added.
The Union arrive with a 6W-10L-9D record, outside the MLS Cup Playoffs picture for the moment. The team has won three consecutive matches, including its Leagues Cup win over Charlotte, to remedy a 10-match winless streak before that.
More importantly, Philadelphia has found its attacking groove. The MLS side has scored nine goals in its last three matches, across all competitions, and wants to keep that tally going strong.
“It's a team effort,” said Philadelphia Union Tai Baribo. ““Our job is to attack the ball, scoring goals. But also defensive, I think we have a very good defensive play.”
Cruz Azul is unbeaten in its last five matches across league and cup play. It has allowed one goal and will give its best effort from keeping that count from growing.
“We know that we are going to face an opponent that is intense,” said Cruz Azul head coach Martín Anselmi. “That is tough, that defends strongly, that defends well, that is aggressive. So, based on that, we are going to see with what tools and with what weapons we can attack and above all also defend, because they have strong and fast attackers.”
Georgios Giakoumakis has scored two goals since joining Cruz Azul from Atlanta United in June. The Greek striker scored 22 goals in MLS play but is still searching for his first against the Union.
“We know that it is a difficult rival, that it is their home, that they are going to go out and propose,” said Cruz Azul midfielder Érik Lira. “Although they have qualified, it is a match and they are going to want to go out to win it, just like us.
“We want to give a better image to all the fans who are with us on behalf of Cruz Azul and also knowing that we are representing Mexico,” Lira added.
