Union advanced to the semi-finals of the Leagues Cup on Saturday by beating Mexico’s Mazatlán on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Subaru Park.

Mikael Uhre and Jesús Escoboza scored the goals, then Andre Blake saved two shots in the shootout to help the Union advance to Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Crew (time to be announced, Apple TV).

The win guarantees the Union will play two more games in the Leagues Cup – the semifinals and the final, or third-place match, on August 25. Because of tournament placement, the Union will host the final game, no matter who it faces. The August 24 regular season game against Columbus has been postponed. No new date has been set.

If the Union reaches the final or wins the third-place match, it will qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

Baribo embroiled in controversy

Tai Baribo received a yellow card in the 40th minute for a foul that referee Selvin Brown judged to be a shove as Kai Wagner was about to take a corner kick. The player who provoked the foul, Roberto Meráz, had quite obviously flopped, but Brown saw it differently.

In the 42nd minute, Brown sent off Baribo for challenging Meráz again as Wagner’s corner was finally on its way – and as seen on the replay, he raised an arm towards Meráz’s neck. Meráz again went down very easily and Brown was quick to show his red card.

Because the card was a clear red, the video replay referees were able to review it. That happened, and nearly two minutes into the review, Brown went to a monitor on the sideline. He eventually downgraded the red card to a yellow card, but because it was Baribo’s second yellow, he was sent off anyway.

Uhre’s answer

The game then entered nine minutes of first-half stoppage time when Baribo ran down the touchline to the cheers of the Union fans, who grew even louder when Jack McGlynn passed to Uhre on the left wing, who led a counterattack past Mazatlán’s high defense.

Uhre was positioned so far out that Mazatlán’s defenders had enough time to run back as Uhre moved into the middle. But seeing the space getting tighter, Uhre fired a beautiful lob over goalkeeper Ricardo Gutiérrez that bounced off the far post and into the net – his ninth goal of the year.

It was Union’s fourth shot of the game and the first on goal, Mazatlán’s goals were 10 and 3. But Andre Blake was hardly in trouble, as Mazatlán’s eight fouls in the first half had a greater impact on everyone than those shots.

Uhre had another solo effort in the first minute of the second half, but he tried too many times and Gutiérrez was able to thwart him. Uhre then got hold of the loose ball but shot it straight into Luis Sánchez’s face.

” READ MORE: Mikael Uhre scored an important goal for the Union in Cincinnati after an “honest” conversation with Jim Curtin

Mazatlán’s comeback

Escoboza equalised the game in the 59th minute with a successful free kick: David Colman via Ramon Árciga to Escoboza, who jumped over Jakob Glesnes – whose foul had led to the free kick in the first place – and headed it.

Seven minutes later, Union coach Jim Curtin made a triple substitution. Uhre, McGlynn and Quinn Sullivan came off, Alejandro Bedoya, Jesús Bueno and Damion Lowe came in, while Dániel Gazdag moved into the nominal striker role. Gazdag was replaced in the 81st minute for Sam Adeniran.

Mazatlán’s Facundo Almada came within inches of scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute, but his header hit the crossbar as Andre Blake leapt for it.

Martínez honored

Although the Union couldn’t say it out loud, José Andrés Martínez was given the honor of the pre-game drumbeat as a sign that he will soon be leaving the club. A sale to Brazilian club Corinthians for around $2 million is close to being completed.

Given his impending departure, it was a surprise that Martínez was among the available substitutes on Saturday night. It turns out he had asked Corinthians for permission to make a cameo appearance towards the end of the game if the game presented the opportunity, in order to play at Subaru Park once again.

In the 90th minute, the game still had room for improvement. Martínez came on for Leon Flach at the start of the four minutes of added time. The game then went to penalties.

” READ MORE: A deal is being negotiated to sell José Andrés Martínez to Brazilian club Corinthians

Andre Blake made a save from Colman, then Martínez had his moment and hammered the ball home. Although Subaru Park was only a third full, the crowd in attendance made a lot of noise for both – and it got even louder after Blake denied Alan Torres in Mazatlán’s third round.

Jack Elliott scored just before Blake’s second save and Damion Lowe scored after that. Sam Adeniran hit the right post in the Union’s fourth round match, but Jeśus Bueno slotted home the winning goal to send the Union into the semifinals for the second year in a row.