Union drops opening match of the Leagues Cup to Cruz Azul

The Union dropped the first of three Leagues Cup matches, 1-0, to Cruz Azul Thursday at Subaru Park.

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José Paradela scored a third minute goal that put the Liga MX side in control of the match, securing three points for fourth-seeded Cruz Azul in the Cup’s Phase 1 standings.

The loss severely dampens the No. 5 seed Union’s odds of advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament, which pits 18 Liga MX teams against 18 qualified MLS teams.

After three Liga MX vs. MLS matchups, the top four teams from each league advance to a single-elimination bracket.

This is the Cup’s second season utilizing an eight-team bracket. In 2025, no MLS team that lost in regulation in any of its three matches advanced to the knockout stage.

Paradela’s goal for Cruz Azul came before some spectators settled in to their seats.

Paradela launched a left-footed strike from the edge of the 18-yard box that beat an outstretched Andrew Rick, who started in place of usual goalkeeper Andre Blake.

While one could question how much stock the Union should place in the Cup competition amid the attempted revival of their MLS campaign, Ryan Richter approached Thursday with a mostly first-choice lineup, aside from Rick.

Quinn Sullivan returned to the starting lineup for the first time since tearing his ACL at the end of the 2025 season, across from his younger brother Cavan Sullivan.

“[It throws] you into the fire,” Quinn Sullivan said of his first start back. “I love it. We know any Mexican team’s going to bring the intensity and the fight, the hitting and the afters. I’m all for it, as long as it’s not too out of line. … Physical match. Sixty-five minutes on my legs. I’m definitely going to be sore tomorrow.”

It is the second time the Sullivan brothers started together for the Union. They also started together against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup.

“It was great to see [Quinn] back,” Cavan Sullivan said. “Obviously he still has some restrictions, but it’s great to see him back, [being] dynamic, beating guys. We had a couple linkups, some unsuccessful, some successful. I’m really happy.”

Seven minutes after his goal, Paradela was shown yellow for obstructing a free kick awarded to the Union at the edge of the attacking third.

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It appeared Omar Campos added a second goal to Cruz Azul’s lead in the 13th minute, but a Video Assistant Referee check determined Gabriel Fernández was offside in the build up, disallowing the goal.

Jesús Bueno was shown yellow in the 23rd after a dangerous challenge on Cruz Azul’s Érik Lira. Bueno, making his first start for the Union since April, brought his left leg up near Lira’s shoulder to contest the possession.

Under high heat and oppressive humidity that necessitated a hydration break past the 30th minute, Cruz Azul held on to its 1-0 lead through a physical opening half. Both the Union and Cruz Azul finished the first half with an equal number of shots and fouls (3).

The Union continued to press in the second half, registering seven shots between the 45th and the 65th. Both Cavan Sullivan and Milan Iloski registered near misses on potential equalizers in the 59th and 61st, respectively.

“I was very proud of the way we went for this game in the end,” Richter said. “The goal just didn’t come. But there [were] a lot of positives we can take from it.”

Richter made his first pair of changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Indiana Vassilev for Quinn Sullivan and Bruno Damiani for Ezekiel Alladoh.

Another trio of swaps came in the 79th minute, with Neil Pierre, Agustín Anello and Jovan Lukić replacing Japhet Sery Larsen, Nathan Harriel and Bueno.

Iloski broke through on goal in the 85th, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Iloski was held scoreless Thursday, snapping a six-game scoring streak.

The Union wanted a penalty in the 90th minute after Iloski’s cross appeared to make contact with the arm of a Cruz Azul defender inside the 18-yard box, but referee Juan Gabriel Calderon Pérez did not award a spot kick.

“I didn’t speak to the ref about it, but, yeah, I think it was a penalty,” Richter said after the match.

“They said that they were checking it,” Richter added. “[It is] disappointing. I think it would have been the fair decision.”

Instead, the Union suffered their first loss since returning from the FIFA World Cup break.

The Union will face Necaxa in their second Leagues Cup match on at Subaru Park on Sunday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

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