{"id":3718,"date":"2026-08-07T04:20:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T04:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corporate-movers-usa.com\/?p=3718"},"modified":"2026-08-07T04:20:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T04:20:29","slug":"union-drops-opening-match-of-the-leagues-cup-to-cruz-azul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corporate-movers-usa.com\/?p=3718","title":{"rendered":"Union drops opening match of the Leagues Cup to Cruz Azul"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<div><audio><\/audio><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Union dropped the first of three Leagues Cup matches, 1-0, to Cruz Azul Thursday at Subaru Park.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate-movers-usa.com\/?p=3716\">Flyers sign \u2018feisty\u2019 restricted free agent Nikita Grebenkin to two-year deal<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Jos\u00e9 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\u2019s Phase 1 standings.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>The loss severely dampens the No. 5 seed Union\u2019s odds of advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament, which pits 18 Liga MX teams against 18 qualified MLS teams.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>After three Liga MX vs. MLS matchups, the top four teams from each league advance to a single-elimination bracket. <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>This is the Cup\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Paradela\u2019s goal for Cruz Azul came before some spectators settled in to their seats. <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u00a1Goool de Cruz Azul! \ud83d\udca5\u26bd\ufe0f <\/p>\n<p>Paradela takes an impossible shot for the goalkeeper <\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc30 @CruzAzul vs. @PhilaUnion \ud83d\udc0d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a1Watch now live on Apple TV! \ud83d\udcfa https:\/\/t.co\/Dv0XBkB1aV pic.twitter.com\/8FLq2Twe6i<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) August 7, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201c[It throws] you into the fire,\u201d Quinn Sullivan said of his first start back. \u201cI love it. We know any Mexican team\u2019s going to bring the intensity and the fight, the hitting and the afters. I\u2019m all for it, as long as it\u2019s not too out of line. \u2026 Physical match. Sixty-five minutes on my legs. I\u2019m definitely going to be sore tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt was great to see [Quinn] back,\u201d Cavan Sullivan said. \u201cObviously he still has some restrictions, but it\u2019s great to see him back, [being] dynamic, beating guys. We had a couple linkups, some unsuccessful, some successful. I\u2019m really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate-movers-usa.com\/?p=3714\">McConnell says he\u2019s leaving rehabilitation center to continue recovery at home<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>It appeared Omar Campos added a second goal to Cruz Azul\u2019s lead in the 13th minute, but a Video Assistant Referee check determined Gabriel Fern\u00e1ndez was offside in the build up, disallowing the goal.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Jes\u00fas Bueno was shown yellow in the 23rd after a dangerous challenge on Cruz Azul\u2019s \u00c9rik Lira. Bueno, making his first start for the Union since April, brought his left leg up near Lira\u2019s shoulder to contest the possession.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI was very proud of the way we went for this game in the end,\u201d Richter said. \u201cThe goal just didn\u2019t come. But there [were] a lot of positives we can take from it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Richter made his first pair of changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Indiana Vassilev for Quinn Sullivan and Bruno Damiani for Ezekiel Alladoh.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Another trio of swaps came in the 79th minute, with Neil Pierre, Agust\u00edn Anello and Jovan Luki\u0107 replacing Japhet Sery Larsen, Nathan Harriel and Bueno.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>The Union wanted a penalty in the 90th minute after Iloski\u2019s cross appeared to make contact with the arm of a Cruz Azul defender inside the 18-yard box, but referee Juan Gabriel Calderon P\u00e9rez did not award a spot kick.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Play on<\/p>\n<p>[image or embed]<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 10:19 PM<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t speak to the ref about it, but, yeah, I think it was a penalty,\u201d Richter said after the match.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThey said that they were checking it,\u201d Richter added. \u201c[It is] disappointing. I think it would have been the fair decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Instead, the Union suffered their first loss since returning from the FIFA World Cup break.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Up next \u2026<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>The Union will face Necaxa in their second Leagues Cup match on at Subaru Park on Sunday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate-movers-usa.com\/?p=3712\">Fans gather for Flyers\u2019 Community Caravan in Ocean City with renewed optimism about the team\u2019s future<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jos\u00e9 Paradela&#8217;s third-minute goal for Cruz Azul dampened the Union\u2019s odds of advancing to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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