Miche-Naider Chery scored two first-half goals and Violette AC of Haiti cruised to a 3-0 win over Austin FC on Tuesday in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 match at Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Austin FC, the runner-up in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference standings during the 2022 regular season, capped the scoring on an own goal by Amro Tarek in the 47th minute.
Violette AC jumped on top in the 13th minute when Chery, near the penalty spot, headed home a cross from Roberto Louima.
The lead doubled in the 39th minute on another headed goal from Chery off another cross from the left side, this one from Denilson Pierre.
Shortly after halftime, Austin goalie Brad Stuver saved a Chery header but knocked the ball in front, and Tarek’s attempted clearance sailed into the top right corner of the net.
The second leg of the two-game, total-goal series is scheduled for March 14 in Austin.
Philadelphia Union 0, Alianza FC 0
The reigning MLS Eastern Conference regular-season champions played to a scoreless draw against Salvadoran champion Alianza in the first leg of a CCL opening-round series in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Union goalie Andre Blake made two saves while his Alianza counterpart, Mario Gonzalez, stopped one shot. Philadelphia had an 8-7 edge in shots overall, but the hosts had 53.8 percent of the ball possession.
The teams will play the second leg in Chester, Pa., on March 14.
Later Tuesday, Orlando City were due to oppose Tigres in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico.
–Field Level Media
