After leading Philadelphia Union to a big road win over the weekend, Julian Carranza, Oliver Semmle and Head Coach Jim Curtin has been selected for Major League Soccer's latest Team of the Matchday.
With eight players away for international duty, the Boys in Blue turned to a young and hungry and unique lineup on the road. After playing in both a 4-4-2 diamond and 4-3-2-1 much of 2024, the Union rolled out a flat 4-4-2 to maximize their strengths. Jeremy Rafanello and Markus Anderson each played in new positions during the contest but came up big as the Union grew into the contest.
Early on it was Semmle in goal setting the tone with four momentous saves in his first action since March 1st at Sporting Kansas City. including one just before the break on Evander. Portland sought to get new forward Jonathan Rodriguez involved early with his new side but the Union keeper made a the reaction stop in the 16th minute. With the Union ahead in first-half stoppage time, Semmle kept the momentum with the Boys in Blue to keep Evander off the scoresheet just before the break. Overall Semmle finished with a career-high seven saves in the 3-1 win over the Timbers.
Julian Carranza played a key role in the Union finding momentum with the Argentine front man scoring in both halves to notch his sixth multi-goal game, tying him with Daniel Gazdag and Sebastian Le Toux for the most in club history.Â
Carranza secured the 1-0 advantage for Philly with his first goal of the MLS season, rerouting a pinpoint service from Kai Wagner toward the back of the net with his head. The German left-backs corner found Carranza in the box for a header to the right post out of Timbers’ backup keeper James Pantemis’ reach. He added his second of the evening in the 67th minute taking a cross from Mikael Uhre and putting it into the back of the net.
