Army fall to 12-0 aggregate loss in Champions Cup

Defence Force may be the only unbeaten team remaining in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season, but they were exposed to a different level in the Concacaf Champions Cup, falling to a 12-0 aggregate loss to Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania on February 26. 

The Army/Coast Guard combination was no match for the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit, as a 5-0 first-leg loss at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last week was followed by a 7-0 thumping away from home. With no realistic chance of overturning the deficit in the round-one tie, coach Devorn Jorsling was without two of his most experienced players, as Joevin Jones served a suspension, while captain Kevin Molino didn't make the trip. 

Philadelphia Union line up for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup clash with Defence Force. Photos courtesy Philadelphia Union's Facebook page 

Sixteen-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan was the star of the show for Philadelphia, as he scored a brace late on and also set up a couple of goals. Giant striker Stas Korzeniowski also bagged a brace as the MLS club ran a riot in their home opener for the 2026 season. 

Amazingly, the Army had no shots in the game, and their brightest moment arguably came in the fifth minute when flanker Christian Bailey was played in over the top. Bailey delayed when through on goal, though, and his chance quickly disappeared. By the 12th minute, Defence Force's nightmare in the Champions Cup continued, as they were 3-0 down in the blink of an eye. 

Geiner Martinez opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a set piece, Jovan Lukic converted from the penalty spot in the tenth minute after a rash challenge from Shirwin Noel, while Korzeniowski finished off a flowing right-side move two minutes later. 

Jorsling and his charges will struggle to find positives from the two-legged affair, and stand-in captain Jelani Felix said the tie shows the team needs to get stronger and fitter, and improve their concentration at this level. 

While Philadelphia were in a class of their own, Defence Force's demise was also some of their own doing, evidenced by the home team's fourth goal, which came after Noel tried to chess-trap a cross in his own area in the 48th minute. The score swelled to 5-0 by the 53rd minute, with Sullivan adding gloss to the scoreline with his double which came in the 76th and 88th minutes. 

All smiles: Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan

Philadelphia will now contest Club America in the Champions Cup Round of 16, with the Army returning to a kinder schedule when they face 1976 FC Phoenix in a TTPFL clash on March 4. 

Defence Force starting XI: Isaiah Williams (GK); Isaiah Garcia, Russel Francois, Shirwin Noel, Jelani Fleix; Rivaldo Coryat, Joshua Araujo-Wilson; Christian Bailey, Adriel George, Tyrese Bailey; Kathon St Hillaire. 

Army whipped by Philadelphia in Concacaf Champions Cup

On a night when they would have been hoping for some Ash Wednesday blessings to fall their way, Defence Force had a terrible return to the Concacaf Champions Cup as they were whipped 5-0 by Philadelphia Union at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 18. 

The first leg could not have possibly gone worse for the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) reigning champions, as their Major League Soccer (MLS) guests dominated from start to finish, while the hosts lost playmaker Joevin Jones to a sending-off in second-half stoppage-time. Not for the first time on this Concacaf journey, coach Devorn Jorsling will have to try to lift his team’s spirits after a heavy defeat on home soil. On this occasion, though, the campaign looks destined for an inauspicious end. 

It was a relatively cautious start to the game by both teams, as the Army tried to sit back and strike on the break through makeshift lone striker Kathon St Hillaire, while Philadelphia tried to work neat, swift combinations through the midfield and up to their giant strikers Ezekiel Alladoh and Stas Korzeniowski. Defence Force fashioned a pair of half-chances in the opening 20 minutes, as St Hillaire fired wildly over the bar after being freed on the counter by Justin Sadoo, while Jones slammed an ambitious long-range volley over the bar as well. 

Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan (L) and Bruno Damiani (R) celebrate a goal against Defence Force in their Concacaf Champions Cup clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 18. Photo courtesy Concacaf 

By the end of the first half, though, Philadelphia clearly had the measure of their hosts. They opened up a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Alladoh and Man of the Match Milan Iloski, who opened the scoring with a peach of a free kick past goalie Isaiah Williams in the 29th minute. With captain and playmaker Kevin “Nash” Molino often hounded by two and three markers in the midfield, Defence Force offered very little by way of an attacking threat and mustered just four shots in the game, one of which was on target. 

Asserting their dominance ahead of the return leg in Pennsylvania on February 26, Philadelphia went 3-0 up in the 64th minute when towering defender Olwethu Makhanya headed in from a right-side Iloski corner. In the 69th minute, Williams was picking the ball out of his net again as substitute Bruno Damiani scored via a deflection with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. 

Almost to rub salt in the wounds, Defence Force conceded again in the 81st minute after Grenadian referee Reon Radix consulted VAR to award a penalty to Philadelphia. Damiani made no mistake from the spot and got his team’s fifth goal – and his brace – despite a touch from the sprawling Williams. 

Before the 1,300-strong crowd in the second minute of stoppage-time, Jones, arguably his team’s most lively player on the night, was sent for an early shower when he received his second yellow card of the match. 

Defence Force still have a second leg to look forward to, but it looks like their Champions Cup run will end abruptly in round one.