Andre Blake Helps Lead Philadelphia Union To Round of 8 in Leagues Cup
The Union are advancing to the Round of 8 in the Leagues Cup. Thanks in no small part to star goalie Andre Blake. In the knockout round so far, he has allowed just one goal. He blanked DC United and then got the only save in PKs in the last round. And then last night, after giving up a goal in the 3rd minute, he shut the Red Bulls down the rest of the way, giving his team a chance to even it up. And then came up big in PKs again, allowing the Union to take it 4-3.
The save that sent us to the Quarterfinals 🤩 #DOOP | @andreblake29 pic.twitter.com/Qt6pf4vNY6
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) August 9, 2023
While the Union have struggled to score goals these past two games, Andre Blake has carried them. It is a trend from the Union’s season in general. And we saw while he was away playing for Jamaica, that they are a very different team without him. They dropped a couple games in a row without him. But once he returned, they got back to their winning ways. Including winning every game they have played thus far in the Leagues Cup.
Next up for them, a match with Queretaro from Liga MX in the Round of 8 on Friday. The good news for the Union is it is yet another home game. The rules of the Leagues Cup are that every game has to be played at an MLS stadium. And since Queretaro plays in Mexico, they can not host a game. The two teams already met once in the group stage, and the Union beat them 5-1.
If they win that game, there could be a match with Miami FC, and Lionel Messi coming up in the Semi-Finals. Miami have predictably taken the tournament by storm, with Messi playing for them for the first time. He is currently tied at 7 goals with Minnesota’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane in the Golden Boot race. And as a team, they have 13 goals. Miami had not been a good team for most of this year. But the addition of Messi, among several other new faces, has turned them into a force.
No matter who they face in the Semin-Finals, it will be a home game for the Union. As they have a better regular season MLS record than both Miami and Charlotte.
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