Cruz Azul beats Philadelphia Union 1-0

August 6, 2026

Chester, PA

The Philadelphia Union lost to Cruz Azul Thursday evening in Leagues Cup play with a score of 1-0. Cruz Azul holds the 2026 Liga MX title, and it technically was the home team, although the game took place at Subaru Park. Still, with its strong following, there were plenty of Cruz Azul fans in attendance.

For the Union, its Leagues Cup lineup suggested both deference to the Cruz Azul’s quality and Interim Head Coach Ryan Richter’s focus on MLS games. By way of example, Andrew Rick started in goal. To be sure, Rick has been strong of late, but the legend Andre Blake, who typically captains the team, rested for the game. Quinn Sullivan had his first start after returning to the pitch in July and Japhet Sery Larsen and Jesús Bueno also started.

Historically, Philadelphia’s strength has been its defense. This year, however, the defense has proven more porous. And, Cruz Azul took advantage of a defensive hole early, in the 3rd minute. Cruz Azul’s Omar Campos had the ball on the left and made a diagonal pass back to José Paradela, who scored on a shot to the bottom right corner of the Union goal.

Reality about the defense set in ten minutes later, when Omar Campos appeared to score a second goal for Cruz Azul off of a Gabriel Fernández cross to the left, but a VAR review ruled that Fernández was offside.

One of Philadelphia’s better moments came in the 60th minute, when Quinn Sullivan closed in on the box, passed to his younger brother Cavan Sullivan who passed through an opening to Ezekiel Alladoh and Allodoh shot hard. Allodoh’s shot, however, was at the Cruz Azul keeper,Kevin Mier, who made the save off his mid section.

Allodoh’s hard shot at the Cruz Azul goal.

The resulting save by Mier.

Philadelphia’s play after the early scoring was solid. Although the Union scored fewer accurate passes than Cruz Azul (80% to 75%), it surpassed Cruz Azul in duels won (53-43) and shots on goal (4-3), although the latter figure could have been tempered by Crus Azul’s efforts to preserve the early-established lead. Cavan Sullivan continues to impress with his efforts to score in the corners of the goal, but the shots either were saved or just wide.

Cruz Azul held onto finalize the 1-0 score from the game’s early minutes. Philadelphia continues with Leagues Cup play on Sunday.

Photographs of the game appear below: