Philadelphia Union continues its preseason schedule with a Friday morning friendly against Minnesota United FC at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando. The match will not be streamed but we've got you covered on PhiladelphiaUnion.com with another edition of our live blog from Florida presented by Cintron.
The Boys in Blue are looking to wrap up the first leg of their Florida preseason unbeaten after knocking off Austin FC, 3-2, last weekend and battling St. Louis CITY SC to a 2-2 draw.
Mini Recap: Philadelphia Union got goals from Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag as they wrapped up the first leg of their preseason stint in Clearwater, Florida, with a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC. The result sees the Union remain unbeaten so far in the preseason with four games remaining before their start to the 2023 campaign on February 25th against the Columbus Crew.
Philly opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a great team play that saw defense become offense. Jose Martinez jump started the play with a key tackle that sparked a counter attack at the feet of Gazdag. With the defense closing in, Gazdag has time for a single pass and he gets it out wide to Mikael Uhre on the left flank. Uhre rockets a left-footed low pass into the box and King Julian Carranza gets a right-footed touch to flick it over the keeper to make it 1-0 for the Union. The lead would last for just a few minutes as the Loons equalized just before the halftime whistle.
The second half saw Gazdag on the scoresheet with a diving touch in the 52nd minute to put home a pass from Andres Perea. That goal would be cancelled out however with a 77th minute goal by Minnesota inside the box.
12:38 p.m. - One last attack for the Union and they are awarded a corner. Wagner's service is cleared out by the Loons and that'll do it.Phila
12:37 p.m. - One additional minute of stoppage time in this one.
12:35 p.m. - Wagner fouled in a dangerous area and he jumps up quickly to set up a free kick. Flicks a volley into the box and it connects with Nelson Pierre but the forward's shot is just outside the post.
12:33 p.m. - Torres forces a turnover in the midfield and quickly gets up field. Sees a glimmer of space and has a go but its blocked by a Minnesota defender.
12:30 p.m. - Great build up by the Union but play is called dead by an offside flag.
12:24 p.m. - Minnesota ties it up with a one-time finish in the box. 2-2 in the 77'.
12:20 p.m. - Rafanello into the attack and sees a cross blocked out for a corner. Wagner races over to take it and blasts a left-footed cross that Olivier Mbaizo smashes inches wide of the near post.
12:18 p.m. - Scary moment for the Union but the lead stays in tact. Bendik with a big stop in the box but the rebound is in a dangerous spot but he gets a tip on the second try to keep it a 2-1 match.
12:15 p.m. - Free kick for the Union and Wagner stands over it. Looking for two goals in two games but the keeper sees it coming and makes the save.
12:09 p.m. - 60 minutes have come and gone and that means wholesale changes for the Boys in Blue which sees the debut of Joaquin Torres!
Joe Bendik; Kai Wagner, Anton Sorenson, Gino Portella, Olivier Mbaizo [C]; Richard Odada, Leon Flach, Jeremy Rafanello, Joaquin Torres; Chris Donovan, Nelson Pierre.
12:04 p.m. - Minnesota pushing for another equalizer but the best centerback duo in all of MLS just all over the Minnesota forwards to cut down any sniff of goal.
11:58 a.m. - UNION GOAL!! Gazdag runs a dummy action to get Carranza on the ball outside the box. Julian goes quick to his right with a pass to Andres Perea. The midfielder sees Gazdag make the central run and tees him up with a pass that Gazdag dives at and his gifted right boot gets it home for a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute of play.
11:56 a.m. - Free kick chance for Minnesota just outside the 18. Headed chance but Joe Bendik makes the easy save.
11:52 a.m. -Â Second half kicks off with Minnesota getting the first touch.
11:50 a.m. - Second half will see some lineup changes for the Union. Here's how they line up.
Joe Bendik; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jose Martinez, Leon Flach, Andres Perea, Daniel Gazdag; Chris Donovan, Julian Carranza.
11:44 a.m. - Minnesota ties things up just before the whistle. 😡
11:40 a.m. - Union GOAL!! Jose Martinez with a key tackle to spark a counter and the touch kits Gazdag in stride. With the defense closing in, Gazdag has time for a single pass and he gets it out wide to Mikael Uhre on the left flank. Uhre rockets a left-footed low pass into the box and King Julian Carranza gets a right-footed touch to flick it over the keeper to make it 1-0 for the Union.
11:38 a.m. - Harriel back up into the attack and fires a cross to the far post for Mikael Uhre but the forward's redirection puts it just wide of the post.
11:36 a.m. - Defense stands tough after a long bit of possession by Minnesota, lots of communication across the board as the Loons tries multiple different points of attack. Union get forward but see a blast from Perea hit just off target.Â
11:29 a.m. - Quick attack on the right side as Harriel times a pass perfectly to hit Perea in strides. Quick touch to set up a cross is deflected out. Not a lot of space to create for either side.
11:27 a.m. - Union press on full display as Minnesota tries to build from the back. Carranza and Uhre time their pressing cues and force a long ball that's headed out by Perea.
11:23 a.m. - Minnesota United tries to counter but Harriel sees the play coming and times his slide tackle to prevent a breakaway by the Loons.
11:19 a.m. - Gazdag and Carranza combine for a beaut of a play as the Hungarian backheel's a pass to get Carranza into the box but Julian's shot is into the side netting.
11:17 a.m. - Bueno again on free kick duties and he goes for his second goal of the preseason but it's wide of the net.
11:13 a.m. - ANDRE BLAKE!! Minnesota United wins a corner and the ball bounces out to the top of the box. A Loons player has a blast going for the upper 90 but the Brick Wall rises up and turns it away.
11:11 a.m. - Brujo with a blast that is on frame but the keeper makes the stop. 😡
11:10 a.m. - Chuchu really all over the pitch right now and acting as a focal point early for the quick defense to offense transitions for the Union.
11:06 a.m. - Nathan Harriel joins in the attack, races up the right side and whips in a cross to the box. Minnesota clears it out for a Union throw in but the attack fizzles out.
11:05 a.m. - Minnesota tries to counter but Andres Perea cuts down the passing lanes and blocks a pass into the box.
11:03 a.m. - Julian Carranza with a right-footed boot but its blocked to win the Union the first corner. Bueno taking the set pieces today. Whips in a cross that Minnesota clears away.
11:01 a.m. - Matt Real draws the first foul of the match and Jesus Bueno lines up from 20 yards out. Has a go for goal but its blocked in the box.
11:00 a.m. - Referee blows his whistle and we are underway from windy Orlando!
10:59 a.m. - Here is how Head Coach Jim Curtin will start today's contest against Minnesota United.
Andre Blake [C]; Matt Real, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel; Jose Martinez, Jesus Bueno, Andres Perea, Daniel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre, Julian Carranza.
10:53 a.m. - Getting those final touches in before we kick off against the Loons.
10:40 a.m. - Here come the Boys in Blue making their way for warmups with some 😄 that's sure to make every Union fan match.
10:30 a.m. - Happy Friday and for the final time of this preseason leg 1 Happy Gameday Union faithful. We're coming to you live from the University of Central Florida where it is quite cool for the sunshine state with our weather app saying it's 54 degrees but sunny. Wind isn't helping much but the squad is eager to keep the unbeaten streak going!
