A second-half onslaught widened Philadelphia Union’s margin of victory to 5-0 against Defence Force on Wednesday in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup opening-round series.
Barring an epic collapse in the second game of the two-leg, total-goal series on Feb. 26 in Chester, Pa., Philadelphia would advance to face Mexican powerhouse Club America in the round of 16 next month.
Milan Iloski curled a free kick inside the near post in the 30th minute, Ezekiel Alladoh doubled the lead with a 32nd-minute header.
Olwethu Makhanya skied high to head in Iloski’s corner kick at 64 minutes. Substitute Bruno Damiani proceeded to bag a brace, converting Cavan Sullivan’s sharp pass in the 69th minute and a penalty kick to the lower left corner in the 81st.
Philadelphia put eight shots on target to Defence Force’s one. Four players from the Trinidadian side were booked, and Joevin Jones saw a straight red in second-half stoppage time for fouling Sullivan on a breakaway.
–Field Level Media
