After scoring a first-half brace on the road this weekend, Philadelphia Union forward Julian Carranza has been selected for the MLS Team of the Matchday.
The 23-year-old turned in what Head Coach Jim Curtin called his best game as a member of the Boys in Blue in the club's Eastern Conference rivalry showdown against New York City FC on Matchday 15. After falling behind at Citi Field, Carranza took over in first-half stoppage time to steal momentum for the Union and propel the club to its seventh straight result in league play.
After benefiting from the crossbar stop, the Union flipped the match on its head with a remarkable sequence from Carranza. With four minutes of stoppage time added to the opening half, center back Jack Elliott went direct with a long ball that went right to over a NYCFC defender and into the chest of the Argentinian forward. Seeing the ball dribble right into open space, Carranza took the opportunity and grabbed the equalizer in the first minute with a smooth right-footed finish inside the corner.
Two minutes later again it was King Julian as the Union executed a perfect counter attack against NYCFC. After the Cityzens failed to convert off a corner, Blake saw the space in front of him and quickly rolled the ball to Jose Martinez. The midfielder pushed the tempo and just before the midfield stripe volleyed a pass over the shoulder of Gazdag. Acting as a shield for the ball, Uhre took possession with the help of his No. 10 and cut to his right to draw the full attention of the rushing defense. The moves were only a decoy as he connected with Carranza inside the box who again smashed it home for a 2-1 lead.
Carranza is the second player from the Union in 2023 to receive multiple appearances on the MLS Team of the Matchday, joining Daniel Gazdag (Matchday 1 and 8). The forward was previously named to the Team of the Matchday at the start of the campaign with a two-goal outing against the Columbus Crew in the season opener at Subaru Park.
Carranza and the rest of the Boys in Blue return to Subaru Park to kick off a two-game home stand as they host Charlotte FC on Wednesday, May 31st. The match will serve as Philadelphia Union Foundation Night which will feature an online auction and the return of the fan-favorite car smash, both of which will benefit the organization as since it is an agent of change for the underserved in our area. Kick off between the two sides from Subaru Park is set for 7:30PM ET only on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
