Rick's eight saves guide Union to Leagues Cup win
MLS Philadelphia Union

Rick's eight saves guide Union to Leagues Cup win

Published on August 9, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Philadelphia Union News Release


CHESTER, Pa. - Philadelphia Union hosted Club Necaxa for the second match of Phase One for Leagues Cup on Sunday evening. Union Homegrown defender Nathan Harriel opened the scoring early with a right-footed shot to the back of the net in the third minute. Forward Bruno Damiani doubled the Union's lead in the 12th minute, scoring his first career goal in Leagues Cup play. After halftime, Philadelphia continued to apply attacking pressure. Homegrown midfielder Cavan Sullivan struck in the 53rd minute, also recording his first ever Leagues Cup goal. Club Necaxa responded with a goal in the 79th minute to shorten the Union's lead, but Homegrown goalkeeper Andrew Rick and the defense held strong to secure a 3-1 home victory for Philadelphia.

The Union will return to Subaru Park on Thursday, August 13th to host Santos Laguna in their third match of Phase One for the Leagues Cup (7:00 p.m. ET / Apple TV, FS1, Univision).

Philadelphia Union (3) - Club Necaxa (1)

Subaru Park (Chester, PA)

Sunday, August 9, 2026

TODAY'S MATCH INFO

Referee: Jefferson Escobar

Asst. Referee 1: Walter López

Asst. Referee 2: Christian Ramírez

Fourth official: Victor Rivas

VAR: José Carlos Rivero

AVAR: Lukasz Szpala

GOALS/ASSISTS

PHI - Nathan Harriel (C. Sullivan) 3'

PHI - Bruno Damiani (Harriel) 12'

PHI - Cavan Sullivan (Vassilev) 53'

NCX - Matias Espindola (Vargas, Peña) 79'

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

PHI - Neil Pierre (caution) 11'

NCX - Pedro Pedraza (caution) 35'

PHI - Indiana Vassilev (caution) 59'

PHI - Japhet Sery Larsen (caution) 64'

NCX - Lorenzo Faravelli (caution) 87'

Lineups

Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick, Kai Wagner (Frankie Westfield 60'), Japhet Sery Larsen, Neil Pierre, Nathan Harriel, Danley Jean Jacques (Jesus Bueno 60'), Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, Cavan Sullivan (Quinn Sullivan 60'), Ezekiel Alladoh (Milan Iloski 60'), Bruno Damiani (Malik Jakupovic 73').

Substitutes not used: Andre Blake, George Marks, Geiner Martinez, Alejandro Bedoya, Jeremy Rafanello, Ben Bender, Agustin Anello.

Club Necaxa: Luis Jimenéz, Francisco Méndez, Alexis Peña, Raúl Martínez (Naves 56'), Daniel Leyva, Pedro Pedraza (Lorenzo Faravelli 64'), Emilio Rodriguez (Ricardo Monreal 56'), Carlos Vargas (Omar Dominguez 80'), Matias Espindola, Julián Carranza, Javier Ruiz (Owen González 64').

Substitutes not used: Emilio Martínez, Rogelio Cortéz, Agustin Oliveros, Christopher Andrade, Juan Torres, Juan Valencia, Javier Orantes.

TEAM NOTES

Bruno Damiani and Cavan Sullivan both scored their first career goals in Leagues Cup competition.

Midfielder Indiana Vassilev registered his first career assist in Leagues Cup match play tonight.

Homegrown defender Neil Pierre, midfielder Jovan Lukic, and forward Bruno Damiani all made their first career Leagues Cup starts tonight.

Midfielder Indiana Vassilev earned his 60th career appearance for the Union in all competitions.

Homegrown forward Malik Jakupovic made his first-ever Leagues Cup appearance in tonight's match.

Check out the Philadelphia Union Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 9, 2026


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