April 6th, 2023
The CONCACAF Champions league quarter finals kicked off this week with three MLS teams still in contention. This week featured the first leg of two with the Philadelphia Union hosting Atlas FC from Guadalajara Mexico and LAFC travelling up the West Coast to Vancouver to face the Whitecaps.
How each team got here:
LAFC - LACF had a year to remember last year. They qualified for the competition by winning the 2022 MLS Cup and claiming the 2022 MLS Supporters' Shield for having the most points during the regular season. LAFC took down Alajuelense from Costa Rica in the round of 16, beating them 4-2 on aggregate. Denis Bouanga scored all three goals in the first leg where LAFC won 3-0 and took the commanding lead.
Vancouver Whitecaps - Vancouver qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions league by winning the 2022 Canadian Championship, known as the Voyagers Cup. This is Canada's domestic cup competition that features the three MLS teams, Canadian Premier League sides, and a few lower league teams. The Whitecaps played Honduran side, Real C.D. España, in the round of 16 where they took a 5-0 lead in the first leg and won 7-3 on aggregate.
Philadelphia Union - The Union we're mere seconds away from winning the 2022 MLS Cup but despite that, they still qualified for the Champions League by holding the most points in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia faced off against Alianza from El Salvador in the round of 16 where they had a tight first match in San Salvador drawing 0-0 but taking care of business at home winning 4-0 on aggregate.
Philadelphia Union vs Atlas F.C. (1-0)
April 4th, 2023 - Subaru Park
The Union are taking a 1 goal lead to Mexico for the second leg but they will still be a little disappointed after Atlas received a straight red card at the end of the first half when Anderson Santamaria fouled Gazdag on a clear break right outside the penalty area. Philadelphia ended the game with seven shots on target and didn't break through until the 89th minute where Dániel Gazdag finally got his shot at redemption and put home a penalty. A win is a win in the Champions League but this seems like a missed opportunity to get a head by more heading back to Mexico. The second leg goes on Wednesday April 12th.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs LAFC (0-3)
April 5th, 2023 - BC Place
A clash of two MLS sides! LAFC are the clear favorite's in this meeting, being one of the highest profile teams in the region and Vancouver having a slow start to the season. If we look at very recent form, Vancouver just beat Montreal 5-0 and LAFC drew to a struggling Colorado side....but as we seen, LAFC are the better team. Forward Denis Bouanga is continuing to score highlight goals. Bouanga's first of the night was a laser from distance. Whitecaps keeper, Takaoka, didn't have a chance. Opoku and Bouanga's second of thee night sealed a 3-0 victory for LAFC. The second leg is Tuesday April 11th at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The other MLS teams to qualify for the competition were Orlando City by winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Austin FC, who were the highest ranked US based club that wasn't already qualified. This was because LAFC won the Supporters' Shield as well as the MLS Cup.
