Union battle, can’t solve Club America in CCL loss
CHESTER » The chance to create drama was there on the right foot of Jamiro Monteiro. It was momentarily on the head of Jakob Glesnes. It never needed to be on the whistle of the referee, fraught as that battle usually is in CONCACAF.
No, the Union put itself in position Wednesday night to make the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal tie with Club America interesting. If not chances aplenty against the Mexican powerhouse, they at least carved out enough of a foothold to threaten a superior opponent on a night that somewhere north of 50 percent of the arena was rooting for the visitors.
But a missed chance in the first half by Glesnes and a penalty kick that America goalie Guillermo Ochoa saved early in the second spelled more frustration for the Union in a 2-0 loss to Club America Wednesday.
With the away goals by subs Nicolas Benedetti in the 79th and Henry Martin in stoppage time, America takes a 4-0 win on aggregate. It advances to the final on Oct. 28 against the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between Monterrey and Cruz Azul. America is chasing its record eighth title in the competition.
Club America, whose boisterous yellow-clad fans packed the stadium in droves representing supporters’ clubs all over the U.S., had dominated play early, but the Union managed to stabilize. The Union went 34 minutes without a shot attempt before
Cory Burke had a shot blocked by a sliding Pedro Aquino in the box.
That led to two corner kicks. On the second, Olivier Mbaizo’s second ball from the right wing was set perfectly for the late run of Glesnes, who beat the offside trap. But the center back couldn’t keep his header under the bar.
The Union parlayed the momentum after the break, and Kacper Przybylko earned a penalty in the 51st when he was hauled down from behind from Jorge Valdez. Despite the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, referee Said Martinez showed just a yellow card, in accordance with guidance against the double jeopardy of a red/PK call.
Again the Union didn’t capitalize, with Memo Ochoa guessing correctly to his left and pushing the attempt off the crossbar. Ochoa then stood tall to body off Burke’s follow-up attempt.
Przybylko had a chance three minutes later on a glancing header, but Mexico’s No. 1 goalie got his fist to it just off the head of the striker. It’s now four goals in the last seven matches in all competitions for the Union.
They didn’t make a change until the 76th minute, attacking well as America made three changes, including going to five at the back. Their first concrete chance came on the 79th-minute clincher, which caused the crowd to erupt. Benedetti made the play with his run through the heart of midfield, and while Glesnes may have gotten the last deflection, the goalbound effort will go down on the Argentine’s account.