The Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Union welcomed CF Pachuca to Subaru Park for an international friendly Saturday night.
With a limited roster of just three substitutes, the Union pit it all on the line to grind out a 1-0 victory in front of their home supporters. After a scoreless opening half that saw key defensive stops from Kai Wagner and Joe Bendik, the Union broke through in the 49th minute as Wagner picked out homegrown Nathan Harriel at the back post for a smashing header.
The Liga MX powerhouse battled until the whistle but again the Union defense couldn't be broken down as they saw out the shutout.
Check out how the match went minute by minute with our friendly follow below.
90'- Fourth official holds up his board and shows that there will be a minimum of four minutes of added time.
86'- Corner for Pachuca. Lofty header that Bendik tips over the crossbar which'll set up another corner. Second go around it the play comes to an end after Kai Wagner is taken down.
84'- Union looking to put this one away as Jesus Bueno attacks the middle of the pitch. Goes out to his left for a Nelson Pierre shot but it's saved by the keeper.
83'- For fresh legs taking to the pitch for Pachuca as they chase an equalizer. They send in Luis Calzadilla in place of Eduardo Lopez.
75'- Union back to front attack on display in the 75th as Leon Flach intercepts a pass and fires it up field to Uhre. It's a 2on1 break Pachuca gets back to steal it off Pierre.
73'- Jesus Bueno with a tackle and the ball ends up at the feet of Mikael Uhre. The Danish forward cuts inside and into open space at the midfield line and races toward the box. Looking to pick out Nelson Pierre but a defender intercepts.
69'- Harriel taken down on the other end of the pitch and it sees Paulino De La Fuente issued a yellow card.
68'- C.F. Pachuca substitution as Marino Hinestroza enters in place of Israel Luna.
67'- Union II forward Nelson Pierre is hunting for a counter attack strike and gets one after another strong defensive stand. The 17-year-old makes a long run and tries to feed Mikael Uhre at the back post but it's out for a corner.
63'- Union showing why they are the top defensive team in MLS! Pachuca makes a strong run into the box but Elliott and Harriel come up with clutch blocks to keep the Boys in Blue ahead. Union look to counter through Nelson Pierre but he's chopped down on the play.
61'- Pachuca finds a gap in the middle of the Union defense but Jack Elliott races back like the Defender of the Year nominee he is and clears it out for a corner. Ensuing corner for the visiting side yields nothing.
57'- Philadelphia Union midfielder Richard Odada gets a little too physical and is shown a yellow card.
56'- Pachuca makes a change as they bring on Pedro Pedraza in place of Jahaziel Marchand.
54'- Richard Odada forces a turnover in a dangerous area, tries to lead Nelson Pierre into the box the Pachuca chooses to concede a corner. The visitors stay patient and clear it away.
49'- GOAL UNION! Union earn a free kick chance and who else but Kai Wagner is standing over it. He launches a left-footer, goes for the back post and homegrown Nathan Harriel smashes it home!
46'- Pachuca gets the first touch of the second half and the final half is underway.
46'- Two changes for each side at halftime. Philadelphia Union brings on Jack Elliott and Mikael Uhre in place of Jakob Glesnes and Julian Carranza. Pachuca's pair of subs sees Miguel Tapias and Paulino De La Fuente enter for Oscar Murillo and Aviles Hurtado.
45+2'- Final play of the half sees Wagner whip in a cross to the back post, Carranza gets a header on it but it's inches wide of a DOOP.
45+1'- Rafanello mounting one more charge before the whistle. Makes the long run and sneaks it to the edge of the box for Carranaza. Pachuca ends the play with a foul which will set up a dangerous free kick chance.
45'- One minute will be added onto the opening half.
43'- The Union pack in as many bodies as they can inside the six-yard box. Wagner's left-footed cross skips into a dangerous spot but the keeper comes out and claims it.
42'- Second straight corner for the Liga MX side and its a big block from Richard Odada in front of Bendik to stop a shot. Union sprint to the other side of the pitch and earn yet another corner kick.
41'- Short corner for Pachuca but the Union defense stays locked in and clear it out for another corner.
39'- Wagner with the tactical foul to put his name into the referee's book with a yellow card. Pachuca goes with the quick restart but no one makes the back post run.
36'- Pachuca with a 1on1 chance and it's Bendik with the point blank save!
33'- Union look to spring another counter attack with a long ball over the top to Carranza but his left footed shot is blocked at the last minute!
29'- KAI WAGNER!! Pachuca gets into the box off a Union turnover and sneak it past Bendik but the MLS All-Star sees it coming and making the diving stop to keep it from crossing the goal line!
28'- Pachuca tries to play out of the back but the Union press nearly sees an own goal.
27'- Good spell of possession for the Tuzos but the Union defense stays compact and doesn't allow anything into the box. Wagner steps up to intercept a pass.
23'- Homegrown Nathan Harriel picks the pocket of Pachuca's Jahaziel Marchand and the midfielder promptly fouls the right back. The tackle earns the visitors the first booking of the evening.
21'- Homegrown Jeremy Rafanello gets the crowd into it as he leads a counter attack down the middle of the pitch. Tries to thread a pass into the path of Julian Carranza but just a tab bit in front of the forward.
19'- Wagner again with the set piece. Just like on the opening corner, it's the second ball that proves productive as he looks for Pierre again but the connection is off. Glesnes collects it in the box but his low shot is saved by the keeper.
18'- Ensuing corner kick is blocked by Pachuca. Union throw it in near the corner flag and earn their third corner of the evening.
17'- Free kick chance for the Union and it's Wagner with the service. The left-footed cross hits off the wall and sets up a corner.
12'- The visitors try and thread a through ball into the box but the Union defense stays in sync and the play is whistled offside.
6'- Pachuca tries to launch a counter off a restart but Richard Odada makes a perfectly timed sliding tackle to end the chance.
4'- Union earn the first corner of the evening after Nathan Harriel clips it off a defender. Wagner with the service like usual. Second ball sees the German nearly pick out Pierre on a near post run but the forward is inches from making contact and it's saved by the keeper.
2' - First shot of the match comes from the Union as forward Nelson Pierre has a go from way out but it's wide of the post.
1' - Looking at the Union lineup and it's homegrown Matt Real at left back with Kai Wagner partnered alongside Jakob Glesnes.
6:10 p.m. ET - The Union get the ball first as Julian Carranza kicks it off and we're underway in Chester!6:00 p.m. ET - Teams about to take to the pitch at Subaru Park for tonight's friendly. It's a beautiful evening with not a cloud in the sky and cool temps.
5:45 p.m. - Starting XI for the visiting C.F. Pachuca:
Carlos Moreno; Jose Castillo, Gustavo Cabral, Oscar Murillo, Mauricio Isais; Jahaziel Marchand, Israel Luna, Aviles Hurtado; Eduardo Lopez, Victor Guzman, Roberto de la Rosa.
Substitutes: Christian Gonzalez, Migual Tapias, Julio Perez, Ari Contreras, Luis Calzadilla, Marino Hinestroza, Paulino De La Fuente, Pedro Pedraza, Joes Saldivar, Eduardo Mustre.
5:15 p.m. - Check out tonight's lineup for the Boys in Blue!
