Kacper Przybylko scored two second-half goals and assisted on another as the Philadelphia Union pulled away for a 3-0 win over host Atlanta United in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series.
The final leg of the total-goals series will be played May 4 in Chester, Pa.
Przybylko tapped in the first goal off a corner kick in the 57th minute, and he doubled the lead with a 16-yard shot off a two-on-one breakaway in the 73rd minute.
Anthony Fontana capped the Union’s big night when he rolled the ball into an empty-net off a two-on-none breakaway with Przybylko.
The Philadelphia-Atlanta winner advances to a semifinal matchup against the Portland Timbers or Club America, who begin their quarterfinal series Wednesday in Oregon.
Cruz Azul 3, Toronto FC 1
Brayan Angulo gave Cruz Azul the lead twice in the first half, and the Mexican side powered to a victory in the first leg of a quarterfinal series at Tampa.
The second leg is scheduled for May 4 in Mexico City.
A curling 18-yard effort from Angulo in the third minute opened the scoring, but Toronto’s Jonathan Osorio leveled the score in the 20th minute after a scramble in the 6-yard box.
Angulo put Cruz Azul on top for good in the 34th minute with a tap-in off a corner kick. Pablo Aguilar’s header off a free kick in the 58th minute sealed the first-leg outcome.
The Cruz Azul-Toronto winner will move on to meet either Mexico’s Monterrey or the Columbus Crew, who open their quarterfinal series Wednesday in Ohio.
–Field Level Media