Perseverance was the name of the game on Tuesday night as the Philadelphia Union battled back from an early deficit to defeat New York Red Bulls and advance to the quarterfinal round of the inaugural Leagues Cup. The match finished in a 4-3 penalty shootout after a chippy second half highlighted by defender Nate Harriel’s second goal of the tournament – this time, an equalizer.
Red Bulls opened scoring in the 4th minute, claiming a lead that they’d maintain throughout the entire first 45 minutes and well into the second, but the Union didn’t falter. Instead, they exited the locker room after halftime with an unwavering determination that unfolded into their second shootout victory in five days.
In the 68th minute, Kai Wagner sent a cross into the box, where Harriel jumped above the rest to head the ball out of traffic and into the net past Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel for the equalizer.
“I gotta say, I have one of the biggest verticals on the team, so when I have the opportunity to get in the air, I’m just gonna jump,” Harriel said after the game.
The 22-year-old defender has started two of the team’s four Leagues Cup games, and in 215 minutes played he’s doubled his all-time Union scoring total from two to four. His first goal of the tournament came in similar fashion, by way of his head from a Wagner cross in the team’s 5-1 beatdown against Queretaro, who they’re set to rematch the Mexican side on Friday night at Subaru Park to decide which team will advance to the semifinals.
After Tuesday’s win, Head Coach Jim Curtin offered insight into Harriel’s recent offensive prowess, explaining why to him, it’s unsurprising that the young player has earned more chances as of late.
“Nate’s a winner,” Head Coach Jim Curtin said. "He's been excellent. He's a lockdown kind of defender 1v1, defends forward, and he's really aggressive."
Curtin trotted out a tactical 3-5-2 lineup to start the game, utilizing Harriel as a wing back. Harriel said the formation allowed him more opportunities closer to the net, and it showed on the stat sheet, as he totaled three on-target scoring attempts on the night which is the most he’s seen in a single game through his Union tenure.
“On set pieces – maybe he's not the tallest, right. So their best guys naturally go to Jack Elliott, Damien Lowe, Mikael Uhre, Jakob Glesnes – all the big guys. So what happens is now, they look at him and he's only [5-foot-10] or whatever it is, and they get maybe their fourth or fifth best marker on him. All of a sudden, when he can elevate like that, you go, oh, actually, he might be the most dangerous guy.”
Curtin wasn’t the only team leader who nodded to Harriel’s effort after the game. Keeper Andre Blake gave Harriel his flowers as well, expressing his excitement for his teammate's success.
“He’s showing up for us big time and we love it ” Blake said.
“We’ve got to keep pushing him and keep celebrating him. I’m one of the people who give him the hardest time when he doesn’t score, so whenever he does score, I go hard for him and I’m very proud of him right now.”
Philadelphia Union will be back at Subaru Park on Friday night to host Queretaro in Leagues Cup Quarterfinal. Tickets for the match are now on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
