Philadelphia Union is back on the pitch Sunday morning as they face off against Eastern Conference foe New England Revolution in Lakewood Ranch. The match will not be streamed by either side but we'll provide you the play by play starting at 11:30AM ET with another edition of our live blog in Florida presented by Cintron.
The Boys in Blue kick off the second leg of their Florida preseason looking to continue their unbeaten streak that started with a 3-2 victory over Austin FC and were followed up with a pair of 2-2 draws against St. Louis CITY SC and Minnesota United. During the first three games Head Coach Jim Curtin has spread out the minutes with 25 different field players getting valuable experience.
The Union have seen all seven of their goals come from different players too with Alejandro Bedoya, Jesus Bueno, Julian Carranza, Chris Donovan, Daniel Gazdag, Gino Portella and Kai Wagner each getting a DOOP.
Mini Recap: Philadelphia Union kicked off its final leg of the preseason with a 2-0 victory over Eastern Conference foe New England Revolution on Sunday afternoon. The Boys in Blue got goals in each half with Julian Carranza connecting with Daniel Gazdag in the 35th minute to give the Union a halftime lead. In the final frame, Jesus Bueno doubled the Union’s advantage as he reacted first to a Mikael Uhre shot that was saved and fired it home. The goals by Gazdag and Bueno give them a team-high two goals in the preseason and helped pushed the Boys in Blue unbeaten streak in the preseason to four friendlies.
1:40 p.m. - There's the final whistle and the unbeaten streak extends to four!
1:35 p.m. - Five minutes left in this one. Matt Real plays a long diagonal pass over the top for Uhre and the Union forward is fouled again from behind.
1:33 p.m. - Back and forth battling in the midfield over the last few minutes but Union looking to see out the result and keep that important clean sheet.
1:25 p.m. - Another big hustle play from Flach to keep the shutout alive via a blocked shot. Revolution earn a corner but its cleared out by the Union.
1:20 p.m. - UNION GOAL!! Boys in Blue double up their advantage with a rebound finish from Jesus Bueno! Mikael Uhre gets in on goal and fired a shot on target that forces a tough save by the keeper. Ball trickles out and Bueno pounces on it to make it 2-0 for the Union in the 70th.
1:15 p.m. - Long spell of possession by the Boys in Blue as they look to find a second against the Revs. Possession ends with a shot off a volley by Andres Perea but it goes over the crossbar.
1:13 p.m. - Bueno's service from the corner is punched out by the keeper. Union track down the second ball and get it to the feet of Joaquin Torres. Goes 1v1 into the box but sees it last off him and it'll be a Revs goal kick.
1:11 p.m. - Mikael Uhre in charge of the hold up play in this formation and he's fouled from behind just past the center stripe. Bueno comes over for the free kick chance and fakes a volley and goes quickly to his right for Harriel. Homegrown attempts a cross but its out for a Union corner.
1:07 p.m. - Two changes for the Union here at the 60th minute. Anton Sorenson and Joe Bendik in for Craig and Blake. Lineup is as follows still in the 4-3-2-1:
Joe Bendik; Anton Sorenson, Matt Real, Damion Lowe, Nathan Harriel; Jesus Bueno, Leon Flach, Alejandro Bedoya; Andres Perea, Joaquin Torres; Mikael Uhre.
1:06 p.m. - Revs turning up the pressure but again Andre Blake showing why he's the best keeper in the league with another reaction stop from a shot in the box.
1:02 p.m. - Flach is dispossessed but hustles back to block a Revs shot in the box.
12:58 p.m. - Chaos in the box! Torres and Perea each have a go inside the box but they see their efforts blocked.
12:57 p.m. - Harriel fouled along the sideline and we'll see Jesus Bueno take the set piece chance. The midfielder lifts it into the box but its cleared out by the Revs.
12:55 p.m. - Curtin rolling with the 4-3-2-1 now to start the second half.
Andre Blake; Matt Real, Brandan Craig, Damion Lowe, Nathan Harriel; Jesus Bueno, Leon Flach, Alejandro Bedoya; Andres Perea, Joaquin Torres; Mikael Uhre.
12:52 p.m. - Second half has kicked off and there is a formation change for the Boys in Blue. Sorting that out now and we'll update it ASAP!
12:45 p.m. - That's the first half with the Boys in Blue up, 1-0, thanks to a beautiful finish from Daniel Gazdag that was set up by Julian Carranza!
12:38 p.m. - Rivalry starting to show now. This is supposed to be a friendly? Trimming the holiday card send list early in 2023 it seems.
12:36 p.m. - Revs trying to respond pretty quickly but Brick Wall Blake shuts down the angle to keep the Union lead.
12:35 p.m. - UNION GOAL!!! Gazdag gets the goal he's been pushing for! Carranza with the hold up play in the box and spots the run by Gazdag to his right and its a quick finish inside the far post by the Union's #10! 1-0 Philly.
12:31 p.m. - Elliott given loads of space on the left side and he earns a free kick just outside the New England box. Wagner and McGlynn stand over it but it's Kai who has a go but its cleared away.
12:29 p.m. - Gazdag on the hunt for his second goal of the preseason but the Revs defense blocks his right-footed shot.
12:27 p.m. - Glesnes sees some space and unleashes a BLAST on target that the keeper get smashed with but he keeps it out.
12:24 p.m. - Starting to lose count on how many times we've had the flag raised..Gazdag looks in on goal but play is waived off.
12:21 p.m. - Brujo and Mbaizo get a little combo play going on the right side this time and once again the Boys in Blue earn a corner kick. Wagner comes over to deliver the service for the fourth time today and he connects with Jack Elliott but the centerback's flick header is wide of the far post.
12:15 p.m. - Glesnes connects with Wagner in open space on the left side but the German is called offside.
12:09 p.m. - McGlynn getting fancy with the footwork and threads a through ball for Daniel Gazdag which nets the Union another corner. Ensuing set piece negated though by a foul in the box by the Boys in Blue.
12:07 p.m. - Can barely keep up with how many chances here early. Union earn the first two corner kicks of the afternoon but neither Kai Wagner service can sneak through. Quinn Sullivan got possession on the second try but can't sneak a shot through a pair of defenders.
12:05 p.m. - Quick combo from the Union to get in a dangerous spot. Gazdag out wide to Mbaizo on the right flank to race him into space. Mbaizo fires a cross into the box for Carranza but the forward's shot just misses the near post.
12:04 p.m. - Revs look to counter but Andre Blake comes off his line and forces a very wide shot by the opposition.
12:03 p.m. - Union into the attack and it finds the boots of homegrown Jack McGlynn who rips a shot outside the box but its saved by the keeper fully stretched out.
12:02 p.m. - Revs a little too aggressive and called for the first foul of the contest. Quick free kick at the center stripe taken by Jakob Glesnes but he just goes back to Brandan Craig
12:01 p.m. - Union quickly strike first literally 64 seconds into the contest but the assistant waves it off for offside. 😡
12:00 p.m. - Right at 12pm the referee blows his whistle and we are underway with the Union getting the first touch.
11:54 a.m. - Starters getting their final warm up exercises going now before we kick off at noon!
11:50 a.m. - Jack McGlynn and the rest of the U.S. U20s homegrowns are back and in the Starting XI today! Definitely brings a 😁
11:46 a.m. - New England's Starting XI will be:
Dorde Petrović; Ryan Spaulding, Dave Romney, Christian Makoun, Brandon Bye, Joshua Bolma, Jack Panayotou, Latif Blessing, Carles Gil (C), Dylan Borrero, Jozy Altidore.
11:45 a.m. - Head Coach Jim Curtin said this 2023 group would allow for some tactical flexibility and we’ll see that today against the Revs. Here is how the squad lines up in what we'll call a 3-4-1-2.
Andre Blake [C]; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Brandan Craig, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jack McGlynn, Jose Martinez; Daniel Gazdag; Julian Carranza, Quinn Sullivan.
11:40 a.m. - Full roster will be available for today's friendly against the Revs. Wonder if we'll see some changes? Lineups should be out soon.
11:30 a.m. - Good morning Union fans, we're just now arriving to the pitch in Lakewood Ranch, Florida which is where we'll kick off the second leg of preseason. Temperatures are mighty nice with it saying 75 degrees but gusty winds here.
