Cruz Azul 1:0 Philadelphia Union: Leagues Cup Match Result

Match report

Cruz Azul secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union in their League Cup group stage fixture on Thursday evening. The win came after a match where the hosts took the lead early and defended resolutely against persistent pressure from the visitors. The result extends Cruz Azul's unbeaten run to four games across all competitions.

J. Paradela opened the scoring in the third minute, slotting home what proved to be the decisive goal. His celebration was short-lived; he picked up a yellow card just seven minutes later for a tactical challenge. By then, Philadelphia had already started pressing, and the pressure intensified when O. Campos had a goal disallowed for offside in the thirteenth minute after VAR review.

Philadelphia Union dominated possession in the middle periods, launching 95 attacks compared to Cruz Azul's 55. The visitors completed 20 crosses into the penalty area, but only one found its target. Cruz Azul's back line, clearing 30 balls and completing 12 interceptions, kept their side in it through sheer determination. E. Lira joined Paradela on the yellow card list in the fifty-third minute after a late challenge.

The statistics tell a story of two teams approaching the match differently. Cruz Azul completed 362 passes at 80% accuracy, while Philadelphia managed 297 of 397 attempts. The visitors created three big chances but converted none, while their opponents managed just one. Shots accuracy favoured the hosts at 30 per cent against Philadelphia's 21 per cent.

The result leaves both teams level on points in their group after this opening fixture. Cruz Azul's victory adds weight to their recent form, which has shown improvement following a mixed run of results. Philadelphia now need to find a way through well-organised opposition if they are to progress further in the competition.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 52 – 48

Shots on target 3 – 3

Shots off target 4 – 7

Big chances 1 – 3

⚽ 3' J. Paradela — Goal 🟨 10' J. Paradela — Yellow card 13' O. Campos — var_goal_cancelled_-_offside 🟨 23' J. Bueno — Yellow card 🟨 53' E. Lira — Yellow card ⇄ 65' G. Fernandez — Substitution ⇄ 66' Q. Sullivan — Substitution ⇄ 67' E. Alladoh — Substitution ⇄ 78' J. Sery Larsen — Substitution ⇄ 79' J. Bueno — Substitution ⇄ 88' W. Ditta — Substitution ⇄ 90+2' A. Palavecino — Substitution

Match events

3' 1:0 Cruz Azul Goal J. Paradela assist: O. Campos
10' 1:0 Cruz Azul Yellow card J. Paradela
13' 1:0 Cruz Azul var_goal_cancelled_-_offside O. Campos
23' 1:0 Philadelphia Union Yellow card J. Bueno
53' 1:0 Cruz Azul Yellow card E. Lira
65' 1:0 Cruz Azul Substitution G. Fernandez off: N. Ibanez
66' 1:0 Philadelphia Union Substitution Q. Sullivan off: I. Vassilev
67' 1:0 Philadelphia Union Substitution E. Alladoh off: B. Damiani
78' 1:0 Philadelphia Union Substitution J. Sery Larsen off: N. Pierre
79' 1:0 Philadelphia Union Substitution J. Bueno off: A. Anello
88' 1:0 Cruz Azul Substitution W. Ditta off: J. Diaz
90+2' 1:0 Cruz Azul Substitution A. Palavecino off: C. Jimenez

Statistics

52 Possession, % 48

3 Shots on target 3

4 Shots off target 7

1 Big chances 3

55 Attacks 95

1 Corners 7

8 Fouls 6

6 Free kicks 8

1 Offsides 1

2 Yellow cards 1

0 Red cards 0

13 Goal kicks 6

19 Throw-ins 32

All statistics

15/3050% Aerial duels 15/3050%

62 Backward passes 53

3 Blocked shots 4

30 Clearances 7

1/425% Crosses 1/205%

8/1844% Dribbles 13/1968%

91 Failed passes 100

3 Goalkeeper saves 2

12 Interceptions 9

9 Key passes 10

24/6239% Long passes 19/5237%

64 Passes into the final third 95

190 Passes in the opposition half 282

267 Passes in own half 135

0.30 Shot accuracy 0.21

4 Shots from outside the box 4

6 Shots inside the box 10

8/1457% Tackles 12/1771%

453 Total passes 397

Line-ups

Cruz Azul

Starting XI
#	Player	number
23	Kevin Mier	23
3	Omar Campos	3
4	Willer Emilio Ditta Pérez	4
5	Jesús Orozco	5
16	Ángel Jeremy Márquez Castañeda	16
33	Gonzalo Rubén Piovi	33
6	Érik Antonio Lira Méndez	6
8	Agustín Palavecino Lamela	8
20	José Antonio Paradela	20
19	Carlos Alberto Rodríguez Gómez	19
21	Gabriel Matías Fernández Leites	21

Substitutes
#	Player	number
1	Andrés Guillermo Gudiño Portillo	1
61	Bruno Salgado	61
12	Alan Montes	12
49	Jonathan Alejandro Díaz Rivas	49
66	Javier Suarez	66
10	Andrés Anarbol Montaño Mora	10
17	Amaury García Moreno	17
32	Cristian Ramón Jiménez Ducloux	32
7	Nicolás Alejandro Ibáñez	7
14	Juan Calero	14
18	Luka Romero Bezzana	18

Show full squad

Philadelphia Union

Starting XI
#	Player	number
76	Andrew Rick	76
5	Japhet Sery Larsen	5
26	Nathan Lee William Harriel	26
27	Kai Harley Wagner	27
39	Frankie Westfield	39
6	K. Sullivan	6
8	Jesus Bueno	8
21	Danley Jean-Jacques	21
33	Quinn Sullivan	33
10	Milan Iloski	10
23	E. Alladokh	23

Substitutes
#	Player	number
18	Andre Blake	18
31	George Marks	31
2	Heiner Martinez	2
44	N. Pierre	44
4	Jovan Lukić	4
11	Alejandro Bedoya	11
14	Jeremy Rafanello	14
16	Ben Bender	16
19	Indiana Denchev Vassilev	19
9	Bruno Damiani	9
28	Augustin Anello	28
51	Malik Jakupović	51