Four first half goals and a late screamer from Ilsinho led Philadelphia Union to a 5-1 win over Minnesota United on Saturday night and propelled the Union to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Fafa Picault had a brace and Cory Burke and Ale Bedoya added the other two goals for the home side. Jim Curtin started a strong lineup against the Loons, who had a single road win all season and showed why from the outset.
In the fifth minute, Borek Dockal and Keegan Rosenberry combined up the right to let Rosenberry behind the back line so he could cut back for Burke, but the big striker’s first time shot went wide of the goal.
Two minutes later, Burke got another chance and this time he didn’t miss. After receiving a pass from Ale Bedoya, Dockal saw the ball pop into the air on him, so he thought quickly and lofted a pass ahead to Burke, who was alone with Michael Boxall. Burke outmuscled the defender, rounded his partner, Brent Kallman, and drilled a shot past a surprised Bobby Shuttleworth for the opener.
Philadelphia continued pouring on the pressure and broke through again in the 17th minute. This time it was what has become a trademark intricate passing play up the right that allowed Rosenberry to find space. Picking his head up, the right back spotted Bedoya making a run toward the near post and drilled a powerful ball to the captain’s feet. Bedoya only needed to redirect the ball to lift it past Shuttleworth.
The response from Minnesota came through Angelo. The gigantic striker held off Mark McKenzie and backheeled the ball into the center where Rasmus Schuller tried to head a shot past Andre Blake; the midfielder’s attempt looped over the bar, however, and the Union escaped.
The Union quickly made the Loons pay for their profligacy. After Rosenberry was fouled in the center, Philly restarted play and it was once again the right back on the ball. This time he was able to drive through the heart of the defense and lay a pass through the center to Fafa Picault, who was breaking off Jerome Thiessen. The winger held off the defender and calmly lifted home the Union’s third.
Mark McKenzie was close to adding a fourth two minutes later when a poor Minnesota back pass went out for a corner. Philly played quickly and Borek Dockal’s back post ball was headed down by Philly’s teenaged defender but wide of the near post.
The next opportunity came to CJ Sapong after an extended spell of Union possession. The winger found himself on top of the box when Haris Medunjanin fed a quick pass. Sapong turned and, finding himself free, laced a hard shot that stung Shuttleworth’s gloves.
That one didn’t become Philly’s fourth, but they would get one before the half was out. A quick exchange of passes between Bedoya and Dockal released the attacking midfielder, and he held off a defender until the ball was poked free. Francisco Calvo slipped as he stepped up, and Sapong recovered the ball and played a crossfield pass to Picault. Thiessen stayed off the winger and Picault had all the time in the world to stare down the goal, pick his spot, and curl home the second half of his brace.
Adrian Heath’s attempt to grow back into the match involved removing Thiessen and replacing him with Alexi Gomez. This created a back three with Miguel Ibarra essentially acting as both right back and right winger.
At first, it looked as though the move would pay off. After turning over Bedoya in midfield, Minnesota broke through Darwin Quintero. The Colombian attacker shook off Bedoya and Medunjanin before playing a short exchange with Angelo in the box and blasting past Blake at the near post. Quintero was causing trouble again moments later when he forced Bedoya into a card-worthy tackle atop the box. The attacker then ripped a free kick just over the near post with Blake standing still.
But the Loons were just too poor and the Union too good on the night. In the 61st minute, a poor back pass was run down by Cory Burke, and the striker nearly poked the ball past Shuttleworth, only to see it bounce inches wide and get cleared away. Then Philly’s pressure turned over Minnesota deep in their own half and Gaddis’ quick entry to Burke was let run and Dockal stung Shuttleworth’s hands.
Jim Curtin needed to get Ilsinho minutes in the winger’s return to the bench, but the Brazilian’s tricks were always going to tub salt in the Loons’ wounds. In the 80th minute, Bedoya found Ilsinho. He played an exchange with Medunjanin and ended up on the left. Driving back into the center, Ilsinho unleashed a swerving shot into the lower right-hand corner of Shuttleworth’s goal, adding a fifth to Philadelphia’s tally.
As the match reached its conclusion, the Sons of Ben began chanting “If you’re going to the playoffs, clap your hands!”
And indeed, the win guarantees the Union a spot in the 2018 MLS postseason. They are now in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings with two matches remaining in the season. Philadelphia is back in action on October 21 when they host New York Red Bulls in the final home match of the regular season.
