Philadelphia Union is in the home stretch of its preseason schedule and will play host to Nashville SC in Clearwater on Tuesday afternoon. The match will not be streamed by either side but we'll provide you the play by play starting at 1:30PM ET with another edition of our live blog in Florida presented by Cintron. Tuesday's match will be 120 minutes in length as agreed upon by both coaching staffs and will take place at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex.
The Boys in Blue are on a roll in preseason with a five game unbeaten streak to start off 2023. The 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. The Union returned to their winning says with a 2-0 shutout victory against the New England Revolution and picked up a 3-1 result against FC Cincinnati in 120 minutes.
The Union have combined for 12 goals so far this preseason with Daniel Gazdag leading the way with three goals so far while Julian Carranza and Jesus Bueno are just behind with a pair of DOOPs as well.
Mini Recap - Andre Blake and the Philadelphia Union defense kept a clean sheet during the first 90-minutes but saw their preseason unbeaten streak come to an end via 2-0 setback against Nashville SC. Blake was in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year form during his stint, racking up seven saves during his time in net. During the extra 30-minute period is when the offensive possession for the visitors paid off with a pair of goals in close on net.
Philadelphia Union wraps up its preseason presented by Cintron on Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Rapids. Kick off is set for 11AM ET.
4:12 PM - All out attack now from the Boys in Blue as Harriel gets open on the right side and picks out the run from Rafanello. The homegrown has a go on target but its saved by the keeper.
4:10 PM - Union nearly get one back as Chris Donovan finds some space at the top of the box but his long-range blast is just over the crossbar.
4:09 PM - Nashville doubles its lead in the 114th minute. Bendik makes the initial save off a free kick chance but the rebound falls to the visitors who tap it in. Appeals for an offside but to no avail.
4:06 PM - Nashville SC gets on the board in the 112th minute of play.
4:04 PM - Nashville corner but Quinn Sullivan clears it out. Second ball sees a clearance in the back from Damion Lowe.
3:58 PM - Boys in Blue really pushing for the go-ahead goal here in the final period. Matt Real rushes up the left flank and tries to pick out the run from Jeremy Rafanello but the keeper claims it.
3:54 PM - Quick ball over the top for Chris Donovan, tries to squeeze it inside the far post but it trickles along the grass out inches wide.
3:51 PM - Hard defensive challenge earns Nashville SC a free kick opportunity near the Union's 18-yard-box. Defense clears it out and awards the visitors a corner. Second chance at the apple for the Tennessee side but again, safe result.
3:47 PM - Only one change and it's in the back as Joe Bendik replaces Andre Blake in goal. Philly kicks off and we're off.
3:39 PM - After 90 minutes and these two defensive sides are still deadlocked at 0-0. We'll play another half hour trying to find a winner.
3:35 PM -Â Nashville launches a counter but Damion Lowe races over to the right sideline and clears it out.
3:29 PM - Nashville SC with a corner kick opportunity. Rafanello is the first player to get a touch on the corner and he clears it out. Nashville recycles the play but its out for a Philly goalkick this time.
3:27 PM - Matt Real gets into the attack for the first time this afternoon but puts a little too much power being his left-footed cross and its out for a Nashville SC goal kick.
3:25 PM - Two more substitutes for Head Coach Jim Curtin come in the 77th minute as Chris Donovan replaces Mikael Uhre and Jeremy Rafanello comes on for Joaquin Torres.
3:22 PM - Visiting side with a corner but the Union defense keeps on rolling and clears it out.
3:20 PM - Nashville force a turnover and quickly attack the Union defense but once again Blake there for the save.
3:16 PM - Torres gets into the attack as the attacking mid and quickly earns a corner for the Boys in Blue. Homegrown Jack McGlynn takes the corner but the keeper punches it clear.
3:11 PM - Wholesale changes for the Boys in Blue at the 60-minute mark for the second straight match. Here's how we line up right now.
Andre Blake; Matt Real, Brandan Craig, Damion Lowe, Nathan Harriel; Jesus Bueno, Jack McGlynn, Andres Perea, Joaquin Torres; Mikael Uhre, Quinn Sullivan.
3:08 PM - Nashville gets quickly up into the attack but fires a shot high over the bar. With that we'll see a whole lotta changes.
3:05 PM - POST! Quick counter from the Boys in Blue with Gazdag laying off a pass to Uhre in the box but the forward rings it off the post. Rebound stays with the Union as Flach collects and sends it back to Gazdag for another go but the midfielder cooks it a little too hard on a curler.
3:03 PM - Nashville springs the next attack with a cross into the box that is headed on frame but again Blake keeps it a scoreless contest with the stop.
3:01 PM - Wagner gets up into the offensive attack and whips in a cross from the right side that connects with Gazdag. The midfielder rifles a shot that just misses the far post.
2:58 PM - Union earn the first corner opportunity of the second half but Nashville clears it.Â
2:54 PM - Two changes at the half for the Union as Damion Lowe replaces Jakob Glesnes and Andres Perea comes in for Alejandro Bedoya. Nashville gets it rolling for the second 45-minute period.
2:43 PM - 45 minutes have come and gone and neither side has broken through yet.
2:42 PM - Glesnes into the referee's book with a yellow card.
2:38 PM - Glesnes guilty of a foul and it sets up a free kick chance for Nashville SC. Ensuing set piece sees them go for goal but its over the crossbar.
2:36 PM - Nashville regains possession and tries to sneak a low shot from 20-yards out but again Blake makes the save.
2:35 PM - Uhre leads a one-man charge after a long throw-in change from Nashville but he gets to the midfield stripe and holds up the play to way for a numbers advantage.
2:34 PM - Visitors play a long ball over the top but Jose Martinez reads the second pass coming and he charges in to shut it down before his man can line up for a shot.
2:32 PM - Nashville SC shown the game's first yellow card of the match for a hard tackle on Gazdag.
2:28 PM - Free kick awarded to Nashville but Glesnes is the first to get a touch on it and he heads it clear and out of danger.
2:25 PM - Nashville really bringing the pressure and with back to back fouls called against them for roughing.
2:24 PM - Brick Wall Blake called into action in the 26th minute after a pass from the wing is collected and blasted from the top of the box.
2:21 PM - Daniel Gazdag gets into the box and fires a shot that forces the first save of the contest by Nashville's keeper.
2:18 PM - Union try to go direct again with a Glesnes volley but once again the keeper is the first to it.
2:17 PM - Back and forth battles in the midfield right now from a pair of strong, defensive sides. Neither side able to break through with a pass to top of their formations.
2:10 PM - Liking the intensity from Leon Flach today but it's little too much as he's called for a foul on our defensive side of the midfield stripe.
2:07 PM - Union earn the first corner of the match after Wagner goes over the top of the defense into the path of Mikael Uhre. Wagner's service is punched out by keeper and they look to counter but nothing comes from it.
2:06 PM - Gazdag fouled about five yards outside the Nashville SC box. Wagner comes up to provide the set piece service and connects with Jack Elliott but the center back's header is just wide of the far post.
2:04 PM - Just past the seventh minute and Nashville fires a shot from outside the box but it curls right to Blake for the easy save.
2:00 PM - Jack Elliott goes with the long and direct pass over the top but the keeper comes off his line to collect it before Torres can get to it.
1:59 PM - First foul of the match is drawn by the Union. Came after some high press by the visitors but the Union defense keeping their heads on a swivel to pass out of the pressure.
1:58 PM - We're starting a tad bit early with the Boys in Blue getting the opening touch!
1:55 PM - Head Coach Jim Curtin makes just one change from the FC Cincinnati contest but sticks with the 4-4-2 diamond for today’s contest. Here is how the Starting XI will shape up.
Andre Blake; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jose Martinez, Leon Flach, Alejandro Bedoya, Daniel Gazdag; Mikael Uhre, Joaquin Torres.
1:50 PM - Getting a few more passes in before heading to the sideline for some final instructions from Coach Curtin.
1:46 PM - Stretch it out before we get underway for another 120-minute friendly.
1:40 PM - Showing some love in warmups to our two 2022 Defender of the Year nominees Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner!
1:35 PM - Gotta keep the streak going. Andre Blake warm up pic.
1:30 PM - Good afternoon from Clearwater Union fans. We're coming to you live from the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex where it is currently 70 degrees and sunny. Warmups will be getting started in just a few minutes.
