Led by the lethal trio of Julian Carranza, Daniel Gazdag and Mikael Uhre, Philadelphia Union extended their lead atop the Eastern Conference with a 6-0 victory against rivals, D.C. United. With a two-goal lead at the break, Carranza made history becoming the first player in Union history to score multiple hat tricks with a trio of goals in the second half.
After a 7-0 rout the last time the two sides squared off, Saturday’s match down I-95 started off with Union fans on the edge of their seats for the second-straight match as center back Jack Elliott saw a third-minute shot from D.C. United’s Ravel Morrison crash off his arm. After a lengthy check by the Video Assistant Referee, play was resumed with Elliott’s arm found to be in a natural position as he slide over in the box.
The Union settled into the match against the Wayne Rooney coached side with their high-scoring attacking trio growing into the contest each time they touche the ball. Julian Carranza nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute of play after Kai Wagner sent a long ball over the top of the defense. Seeing the space from outside the 18, the Argentianian forward had a goal with a curler that just missed wide.
D.C. United regained some momentum on the other end of the pitch but were denied by the Union’s three-time MLS All-Star in Andre Blake. Again it was Morrison finding space after he ran in behind via a Miguel Berry pass. With a possible lead on the cards, the right-footed attempt was turned aside by the brick wall Blake.
Just a few minutes later the match seemed to change after D.C. United beat the Union keeper with a rocket from Taxi Fountes but the left-fooed shot crashed off the post. Bouyed with the big stops on the defensive side, the Union found space with patient and precise buildups. Carranza started it after a combo with Mikael Uhre but was denied by a timely tackle by D.C. defense. Jose Martinez kept the possession alive after the blocked shot with some sweet footwork before shooting it out wide to Kai Wagner. The Union’s leading chance creator picked out a back post run but saw it punched away by the keeper.
The Union ramped up the pressure with homegrown Jack McGlynn sending in a threaded ball that Uhre sent into Julian Carranza into space but saw his shot saved.
In the 37th minute the Union finally broke through the D.C. net with all three playmakers. Gazdag began the build up forcing a turnover and then racing to keep the ball in play against the sideline. The Hungarian sent a pass up the line Carranza and he quickly sent in a cross into the box. Uhre showed off his strength to back down his man and then bang it home for his 9th of the season.
The Union doubled its delight in the dying moments of the first half with McGlynn sending a ball over the D.C. defense in a final offensive chance before the whistle. The Danish international patiently waited inside the box but was taken down after a hard tackle by D.C.’s
45+1’- McGlynn goes long to Uhre and he goes into the box. Sits back waiting for a player to race into the box and he’s taken down by Jose Alfaro. Initially not called a foul, the VAR came into play and referee Ted Unkel needed just one look before pointing to the spot. Leading-goalscorer Daniel Gazdag was perfect from the spot to send the Union into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Philly didn’t sit back and quickly added a third with yet another perfect piece of film of the Union philosophy. Created via an interception from team captain Alejandro Bedoya, he sent it up the field directly to Gazdag. Racing to the top of the 18, Gazdag laid it off to Carranza who needed just one look up before curling in a left-footed beauty for his 10th goal of 2022.
Cory Burke took to the pitch for Uhre in the 65th minute and was eager to impress with pace and strength. Burke did just that in the 69th minute pressuring Alfaro into a turnover and getting the ball to Carranza. A cheeky back heel to Gazdag eventually saw the ball back to Burke but the Jamaican saw his shot ring off the post. The rebound bounced right to Carranza and he put it through the legs of a pair of D.C. United players to make it 4-0 for the Boys in Blue.
Full of confidence having seen a shot break through D.C., Carranza needed little more to unleash a historic performance in the second half and capped off the hat trick with an impressive defensive play to force a turnover from the keeper and become the first player in Union history to bag a hat trick twice in their career.
After seeing his shot ring off the post, Cory Burke wanted to get into the score column and he did so in the 79th minute with a one timer. Jose Martinez once again was dominate in the middle of the pitch and sent a pass forward to McGlynn. Seeing the space in front of Burke, he delivered a perfectly placed ball and the Jamaican striker sent his full strength into the shot and had the Union faithful singing DOOP in D.C.
Philadelphia Union are back at home on Saturday night in front of the Union faithful as they host the Colorado Rapids on August 27th. The match is presented by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer with kick off from Subaru Park is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will also see the Union celebrating Hispanic Heritage with the club having food vendors from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela available throughout the entire match! Special mariachi performances will also happen on plaza and in-stadium before the match so be sure to get in early! Tickets are going fast so be sure to secure your spot at Subaru Park by clicking here.
