PBP: 2021 CCL Quarterfinals - Leg 2: Union vs. Atlanta United FC, May 4, 2021 p/d/p

"Predict The Outcome (of the two-legged tie)"

Tie

 

Better not be, I already lost the Miami game for us with my snarky replies.

 

Draw. Despite the flattering score line, Atlanta looks like the better overall side. The Union (and one Andre Blake), though, should make it very difficult for them to get back into the tie given the lead they have.

 

Seems like a big hill to climb.

 

Who's out for this one?

 

I think I heard Martinez. For this and MLS play.

 

Has the Union ever had a player simultaneously banned from two competitions they were actively competing in?

 

el Brujo

 

Countin' down the seconds 👀

📝👉https://t.co/DC0r8qm59g#DOOP | #PHIvATL pic.twitter.com/ZbRqIDQL6a

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 4, 2021

 

The WVU/Union fan in me is now totally expecting a collapse now that Atlanta have a glimmer of hope after that stoppage time goal.

 

1-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.

I'll take it.

Doop.

 

That was nice.

 

I needed that goal at the end. Well finished, boys. They actually did it. In the semis. Playing (maybe) America in Estadio Azteca. Crazy times.

 

They played very well tonight. Flach looked good at the 6. Fontana.....he's not a 10 at this moment, and possibly ever.

Burke made a helluva of pass for the goal. He's still rusty AF though.

The defense looked solid all night. For all the talk on Twitter about the Union lacking "elite" attacking talent.....newsflash, so is every MLS team not named Miami, Seattle, or LA. (Toronto when Soteldo arrives.). It's also funny seeing as largely the same team was tied for second in goals scored with 44 goals in 23 games.....

Atlanta could have used some elite attacking talent tonight.

The Union still have a lot to work on, but you can see the makings a good team that's tough to beat.

 

The next meeting between these teams will be....ummmm....interesting

Jim Curtin and Gabriel Heinze spent over a minute talking after the match.

Not sure what happened, but it was lengthier than most post game conversations between managers. pic.twitter.com/n373VarvMP

— Joe Tansey (@JTansey90) May 5, 2021

Oh god it's so good.https://t.co/o1zpi5QaxC

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) May 5, 2021

 

They played five times better in that match than they did last week, and only came away with a draw instead of a three-nil victory. Funny how this sport works sometimes.

 

Momentum and what you believe seems to play a big role. When Atlanta thought they could win, the run of play was towards Unions goal. As soon as the Union scored and Atlanta realized they could not win, the run of play switched to the Atlanta goal.

 

And yet the Union have a guy with 5 goals in 4 games in this competition.
......

I already started looking for flights to Mexico City. MLS has the dates for the first leg listed as August 10-12. I'm assuming that will be the game at Azteca given where the goal difference lies.

$261 round trip on what I assume is the Mexican equivalent of Spirit Airlines out of JFK might be an interesting half day of torture.

 

Curious to see what is made of Curtin's comments as he is typically very chill. Whatever Heinze said must have really gotten under his skin.

Also, there were some tasty thru balls last night for Santos and Mbaizo that made me excited for the future. They just need to do better once they receive them.

 

El Rojo

 

We are the last MLS club left in the 2021 CCL! I wonder what bothers Don Garber more about this...that only one MLS club is left, or that the last club standing is the Union?

 

So the Concacaf site says the Union have 10pts (3W. 1T) and Club America have 7 pts (2W, 1T, 1L). Does that mean 1st leg at Azteca Aug 10-12 and leg 2 at Subaru Sept 14-16 or do they reshuffle?

Either way it look like Liga MX is off May thru July so that might help the Union.

Any Liga MX followers out there who can better explain to us newbies to International club football? How much change is there over that break? Is there a "preseason". Does the Union have a chance? Should they practice in masks next to I-95 for 2 weeks before going to Azteca to try and get used to pollution and low oxygen at that altitude?

 

The first leg is in Mexico City. I'm reading different info on dates. Some sources are saying August/September. Others are saying Aug 10-12 and Aug 24-26.