Philadelphia Union's Dominance in Leagues Cup 2023 Sends Message to Liga MX

 Philadelphia Union's Dominance in Leagues Cup 2023 Sends Message to Liga MX

Philadelphia Union's Dominance in Leagues Cup 2023(Image-Getty)

The Philadelphia Union have earned a reputation as one of Major League Soccer's most formidable home teams over the years, and during Leagues Cup 2023, several Liga MX teams are learning exactly why.

After defeating Club Tijuana 3-1, the Union continued their dominant run against Mexican opponents at Subaru Park, achieving another convincing 5-1 victory over Querétaro. This triumph also secured them the title of East 1 winners, guaranteeing them the advantage of playing at home in the Round-of-32.

Coach Jim Curtin expressed his pride in his players' performances in the tournament so far, where they have outscored their rivals 8-2, much to the delight of their fans.

"We have been defending our home field exceptionally well. Our record over the last 40-50 games or so shows how strong we are as a team here," Curtin stated. He also pointed out that their status as one of the top seeds in the tournament was well-deserved, referring to their impressive run to the 2022 MLS Cup final and narrowly missing out on the Supporters’ Shield, both of which ultimately went to LAFC.

In the latest game, Dániel Gazdag, a familiar force from their previous seasons of dominance, led the charge with a hat-trick, including two penalty goals, making him the tournament's leading goalscorer, surpassing even Lionel Messi. Homegrown talents Nathan Harriel and Jack McGlynn also contributed to the result by getting on the scoreboard.

Now, the Union await their Round-of-32 opponent, which will be the second-best team from East 2, comprising MLS sides D.C. United (who have also qualified for the knockout stages) and CF Montréal, along with Liga MX’s Pumas UNAM.

Curtin insisted that they will push forward and strive to go as far as possible in the competition.

Regardless of their next opponent, the two-time Sigi Schmid MLS Manager of the Year is confident that his players will continue to capitalize on their homefield advantage.

"I must say, it's much tougher than these guys have made it look against really good Liga MX sides," Curtain concluded.