Club America edge Union in CONCACAF Champions Cup first leg

Raphael Veiga's first-half goal gives Mexican club 1-0 advantage heading into second leg

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:25am

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Raphael Veiga scored the game's only goal in the 20th minute to give Club America a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 matchup on Tuesday in Chester, Pennsylvania. The teams will complete the two-game, total-goal series on March 18 in Mexico City, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

This matchup pits two of the top clubs in North America against each other, with the winner earning a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. The Union are looking to make a deep run in the tournament, while Club America is aiming to continue its dominance in the competition.

The details

Veiga's goal came after a series of impressive passes by Club America, with Brian Rodriguez setting up the Brazilian midfielder for a 14-yard half-volley that found the top left corner of the net. The Union outshot Club America 9-7 but failed to put any of their attempts on target. Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Blake made two saves, while Club America's Angel Malagon was injured late in the first half and replaced by Rodolfo Cota.

  • The match was played on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The second leg will be played on March 18, 2026 in Mexico City.

The players

Raphael Veiga

The Brazilian midfielder scored the game-winning goal for Club America.

Brian Rodriguez

The Club America forward set up Veiga's goal with an impressive run and pass.

Andrew Blake

The Philadelphia Union goalkeeper made two saves in the match.

Angel Malagon

The Club America goalkeeper was injured late in the first half and replaced by Rodolfo Cota.

Rodolfo Cota

The Club America goalkeeper who replaced the injured Angel Malagon in the first half.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough match against a very good Philadelphia team, but I'm proud of the way our guys executed the game plan and got the win.”

— Santiago Solari, Club America head coach

What’s next

The second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 matchup between Club America and the Philadelphia Union will be played on March 18, 2026 in Mexico City. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The takeaway

This first-leg result sets up an intriguing second-leg matchup between two of the top clubs in North America, with Club America holding a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into the decisive return fixture in Mexico City. The Union will need to find a way to break down Club America's defense and level the aggregate score to have a chance of advancing in the competition.