Union down Deportivo Saprissa to advance in CONCACAF Champions Cup

Costa Rican powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa traveled to Subaru Park feeling confident they could advance to the second round of the Concacaf Champions Cup to play Mexican side Pachuca.

Emboldened by a 90th-minute Gerald Taylor goal in the first leg, El Monstruo Morado took the pitch in Chester ready to attack. Changing from a 3-4-3 in leg one to a 4-2-3-1 and putting Javon East up top would certainly pay dividends for Vladimir Quesada’s squad.

Jim Curtin made four changes to his squad, including one on his back line. One of those different starters was Markus Anderson who made his presence known immediately, winning his team a corner when his shot was blocked just 55 seconds in. Jesus Bueno started in place of Jose Martinez and won a free kick, had a shot on target, and nearly sprung Quinn Sullivan in the eighth minute with a ball that rolled the right sideline like a great bunt.

In the ninth minute, Javon East made his starting nod look brilliant. Jakob Glesnes was caught standing and, unaware of East running onto the pass, took out the back of his legs attempting to clear the through ball. After a lengthy review, VAR granted the penalty. Luis Paradela stepped up and calmly beat Oliver Semmle in the top left corner, though Semmle guessed right.

Facing another game of chasing back from behind, the Union struck back just three minutes later behind who else but the first leg hat trick scorer, Julian Carranza. Strong passing play on the left wing between Kai Wagner and Jack McGlynn allowed for a switch to Sullivan on the right wing. Sullivan used his pace to get a step on his defender and whipped in a beautiful cross that Carranza, who put in a great shift, was more than happy to head home.

The game only ratcheted up from there as Semmle was soon called on to make a big save in the 23rd minute. In the 26th minute his counterpart, Kevin Chamorro, made a save on Markus Anderson though after another blocked shot Quinn Sullivan fired home and the Union had a 2-1 lead. Fans did not have long to celebrate as Saprissa charged right back in the 28th minute. After a deep corner was headed back into the six-yard box, Warren Madrigal was able to get a step inside his defender, open his hips, and deliver the visitor’s renewed spirit. Both goalies continued to make big stops going into the end of the first half.

The second half was every bit as spirited with Mariano Torres and Javon East continuing to cause issues for the Union back line while halftime substitute Jose Martinez and Jack McGlynn started to control the center of the pitch for Philadelphia. Kai Wagner missed a long-range effort just high in the 52nd minute and ten minutes later Mariano Torres shaped a boomerang of a free kick around the wall and into the side netting. Just like that the Union were down and aggregate and away goals were even.

With the game hanging in the balance, both teams pushed for a winner. In the 85th minute, Semmle had to palm away a deflected Torres strike ticketed for the bottom corner. Then in the 90th minute, a long ball from Martinez led to a smothered cross that the Union just couldn’t get a foot on in the box. Off the ensuing corner, Saprissa was on the counter. Jack Elliott made a sliding challenge from behind and, though replays showed minimum contact, he was shown a straight red card. The Union were down to 10 men and headed to extra time.

When down to ten men, you usually hear commentators say “Team A has got to maintain their shape and capitalize if they get an opportunity.” Please forgive me if, when Jack McGlynn’s 94th-minute corner came out low and skipped, I screamed “You have to beat the first man.” Somehow the ball did. Then it skipped through more men. Waiting all alone on the back post was a second-half substitute and ball of energy tonight, Mikael Uhre. The Union were suddenly up 6-5 on aggregate but not out of the (Costa Rican) jungle just yet.

In the 108th minute of extra time, defender Kendall Waston found himself on a breakaway. Semmle came out enough to cut down the angle, stayed tall, and was able to get a hand on Waston’s chip attempt enough to force it wide. In the 119th minute, Saprissa had a sequence where their header bounced off the underside of the crossbar, a follow-up header hit the crossbar flush, and the ball back across nobody could get a touch too. We will, all willing, be hearing the famous DOOP goal song a lot this year. Let’s just hope it’s not from our hearts beating out of our chest every game.

The Union travel to play Sporting Kansas City in an MLS match on Saturday, March 2nd. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 pm.