After Saturday’s unfortunate visit to Atlanta resulted in a 3-1 loss, Philadelphia Union fans would be forgiven if they were expecting a Club America thrashing in Mexico City last night (something 41 percent of readers predicted in our poll). For much of the first half it looked like the Union might be heading down that exact path but VAR came to the rescue to waive off a second goal and a second half turn around where even the TV commentators wondered if the two teams had swapped jerseys nearly resulted in an unlikely scenario.

In the email today:

1. 🏆 Union battle back but come up short in Champions Cup exit

The Philadelphia Union overcame an early set piece goal and made a game out of their second leg Round of 16 Concacaf Champions Cup match with Club America in Mexico City Wednesday night but a 1-1 draw wasn't enough to knock off the Liga MX giants.

Raphael Veiga, the goal-scorer in the first leg at Subaru Park last week, found the head of Rodrigo Dourado in the sixth minute on a curling set piece into the box and Dourado was able to head the ball with pace past Andrew Rick to make it 2-0 on aggregate.

America nearly put the game out of reach minutes later through U.S. international Alex Zendejas but VAR came through for the visitors to confirm an offside and take the goal off the board.

Zendejas and the America attack continued to threaten through the rest of the half while the Union struggled to string passes together and create mismatches in transition until Cavan Sullivan slipped ball to Stas Korzienowksi in the box that had equalizer written all over it in the first minute of stoppage time. Korzienowski had trouble getting the ball out of his feet and Rodolfo Cota was able to make the stop.

VAR came into play once more before the break when Jovan Lukic was whistled for a handball in the box. A quick video review confirmed that Érick Sánchez's shot had hit Lukic in the armpit and not the arm. Another potential crisis avoided.

Heading into the second half still in search of an equalizer, the Union quickly turned the tide and Jesus Bueno hit a diagonal ball toward substitute Frankie Westfield streaking into the box. Zendejas clumsily toppled Westfield over in an attempt to deny him the ball and VAR wasn't needed to call the obvious penalty. Bueno calmly stepped up to convert the penalty and put the Union within striking distance of advancing through the away goal tiebreaker.

That would-be defining moment nearly came at the hour mark when Sullivan danced toward the end line and sent a low cross in the box with Bruno Damiani charging that found its way to Nathan Harriel in the box. Harriel's shot went agonizingly wide of the mark.

Nine minutes later Westfield had a good look from outside the box on a ball played to him by Bueno but his attempt sailed over the bar. Milan Iloski had several chances to create off set pieces and the team as a whole showed a lot more bite in the second half than they did much of the first half, making things interesting the rest of the way.

Though the Union was only one goal away from pulling off the comeback, America was content slowing things down and spending much of the rest of the way baiting the referee into blowing his whistle. Teenage striker Malik Jakupovic, making his second first team appearance, had a half chance in the box he wasn't able to redirect on frame in the 87th minute but the final minutes of the match were marked more by America employing stalling techniques than the Union threatening a smash and grab.

In the end, the early Champions Cup exit in a game that felt winnable for the Union had several positives to take away and one still burning question of how the Union can find more success scoring from the run of play. Wednesday's game in Mexico City was an improvement from the 3-1 loss in Atlanta over the weekend but still not enough to turn around a frustrating month.

2. 🇻🇪 Bueno ‘emptied the tank’ in standout performance

Some of Jesus Bueno’s best moments in a Union shirt have come during cup competitions and Bueno’s performance Wednesday night was easily one of his best since joining the club in 2021.

Head coach Bradley Carnell said Bueno has been in top form in recent weeks and he rewarded the 26-year-old Venezuela international with a tough assignment against Club America.

“Credit to him,” Carnell said post-game. “He took this personal tonight. He played like it meant the world to him and he emptied the tank.”

Bueno’s work rate in the first half and his contributions in the final third in the second half - his pass to Frankie Westfield in the box led to the penalty and he converted from the spot - kept the Union in the match and put them a goal away from advancing to the quarterfinals.

“Coming from a different climate and altitude was tough for the team but we showed our mettle,” Bueno said post-game in Spanish (translated by Google Translate). “That’s what’s important and I’m happy for them, for how the team performed.”

Bueno was chosen as the designated penalty kick taker before the game and leveled the score in the 49th minute, then was instrumental in a second half turnaround that led the commentators to ask if the teams had swapped jerseys at halftime. Though Club America isn’t the dominant force of year’s past (they’re currently in 7th), managing the moment and keeping the belief were critical and on a team as young as its ever been Bueno’s leadership was invaluable.

“They're a top, top team, and I think we learned a lot today, and I think we we can also hold our heads high,” Carnell said. “We have respect for the opponent, but when the whistle blows, we give it a good game and I think that's what we did tonight.”

3.💧Water Cooler: Mood Check

4. ⚽️ Social Post of the Day: Coach Throw-In

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• The Views From the Bridge podcast crew reacted to the news of Ernst Tanner being suspended without pay through June 1.

• Philadelphia Soccer Now writer Matt McClain called for the Union to Turn the Page on Tanner after the news of his suspension broke.

• West Chester United gave Loudoun United a run for their money in a 2-1 loss in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup at YSC Sports on Tuesday.

• One of West Chester United’s former players has found a new home in the professional game in Connecticut and has already made an impact.

• Four Philadelphia Union alums are on the USMNT roster for upcoming games against Portugal and Belgium.

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