Double relief for Jardine and América

América can breathe a little easier. Saturday’s victory in Querétaro gave the Coapa side a much-needed boost. However, it was not the only piece of good news for André Jardine’s team. The Philadelphia Union, their opponent in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, are in a slump and have yet to win in the first three weeks of the MLS season.

On Saturday, Bradley Carnell’s side fell 0-1 at home to the San Jose Earthquakes, raising alarm bells despite their dominant performance against Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force, whom they defeated 12-0 on aggregate in the first round of the tournament.

One of the reasons for the Union’s poor start has been discipline. In two of the three matches they have played so far, the Supporters’ Shield champions have been reduced to ten men. Ezekiel Alladoh was sent off against DC United, while Olwethu Makhanya received a red card in the match against New York City FC.

“We’ve approached it as a group and as individuals. Right now, I’m also looking for recognition of who we are as a group at this moment. We’re a slightly younger group, which is totally fine,” Carnell said about the team’s current situation.

For the first time since 2012, the Union have started an MLS season with three defeats and have managed to score only one goal. That goal came from Indiana Vassilev, who converted from the penalty spot.

“It’s not just one of the reasons why we struggle to score. Today, in the first half, I think we really deserved to score a goal. It’s just details, and we have to improve. Then, in the second half, when they scored, we became so predictable that we didn’t create any chances. In that case, I think it’s a tactical aspect that we need to improve. I already felt it in the last two matches, and I think the manager knows it too. I would say that in those moments we have to improve to create more chances and score goals. In the match, perhaps it was just a matter of luck and details,” said Bruno Damiani after the game against the Quakes.

After three defeats in their previous four matches against Chivas, Tigres and Juárez, América secured a hard-fought victory at the Corregidora Stadium, allowing the Brazilian coach to prepare for Tuesday’s match against the Union with greater calm.

Despite Philadelphia’s current struggles, statistics become irrelevant once the ball starts rolling at Subaru Park, and the Mexican side will have to prove themselves on the pitch.

The Eagles’ top priority is the Concacaf Champions Cup, as stated by Santiago Baños, the club’s sporting president. “We still have the international title to win, and obviously we’re focused on that,” he said, while adding that the team will also compete for the league title.

The series against the Philadelphia Union could ultimately define Jardine’s future with the Coapa side. An early elimination against the current Supporters’ Shield champions could mark the end of an era that brought three consecutive league titles but fell short on the international stage.

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