Given that the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, it's a bit surprising that only one MLS match has been played in America's first capitol on July 4th weekend. Perhaps it was the thrill of finally playing at home on the country's birthday that inspired the Union to a 3-0 win over New England Revolution. That victory was the first Union match played during peak fireworks sales time to finish with a goal difference greater than one. Let's dive deeper into the club's July 4th history.
Results
Prior to last year's dominant performance at Talen Energy Stadium, Philly had played six other matches around the July 4th holiday, but all required travel. The Union spent time in Los Angeles, DC, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Houston before finally coming home to Philadelphia. They have gone 2-2-3 in matches around July 4th but only played twice on the day itself. In those games, the Union are 1-1-0, defeating LA Galaxy 2-1 in 2012 and falling in absurd and disappointing fashion to Dallas in 2014 when Fabinho's attempted clearance smacked into Sheanon Williams and rebounded into the goal to hand victory to the home side.
This weekend's Fireworks Night match on July 7 will be the first time Philly plays their July 4th week match after the holiday itself. Three times they have competed on July 2 -- compiling a 1-1-1 record -- and twice they have taken the field on July 3, drawing both times. July 2nd holds its own significance in American history -- it was on this day, 48 hours before the Declaration of Independence was approved, that the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence from Britain.
The only year the Union had no game around July 4th was 2015; Philly took down DC United on June 30 and didn't return to action until July 11 when they dropped Portland 3-0.
Goalscorers
Five Americans have scored for the Union in July 4th matches, but nobody has scored multiple times. Jack McInerney scored the opener against the Galaxy in 2012, and the man that assisted Jack Mac's goal -- Michael Farfan -- got his own to win the match.
A year later, Conor Casey put Philly up 2-1 at Real Salt Lake, but the home side equalized late in injury time to even the score. Amobi Okugo was the Union's only goalscorer in 2014 at Dallas, and no Americans scored again until CJ Sapong converted a penalty last year to lead his side to victory over the Revs.
Danny Mwanga was Philly's first July 4th weekend goalscorer, and Carlos Ruiz, Roland Alberg, and Ilsinho have also tallied as international players for the Union. Ilsinho and Sapong, then, can become the first Union players to score twice around July 4th if either player (or both!) can set off fireworks against Atlanta United this weekend.
During the first July 4th celebrations in Philadelphia in 1777, many 13-gun salutes were fired to honor the 13 colonies. The Union have scored 11 goals during July 4th games in their history, so two more will mean they have achieved a 13-goal salute in only eight matches.
Matches
2010
Rookie striker Danny Mwanga put the Union ahead in the 21st minute, but Blair Gavin's excellent long range effort in the second half evened things up for Chivas USA as the teams split the points.
2011
With Chris Pontius causing havoc in the Union defense, DC United looked like running away from Philly when the teams met in 2011. Dwayne de Rosario found Josh Wolff for the opener, but Sebastien Le Toux's pressure forced a Perry Kitchen own goal that brought the Union level. Andy Najar's long run and finish put the home side ahead once more, but Sheanon Williams' cross was knocked home by Carlos Ruiz to hand Philly a share of the spoils.
2012
Jack McInerney's sublime backheel finish gave the Union an unexpected lead, but Chad Barrett equalized in the second half. As the match wore down, Lionard Pajoy found Michael Farfan and the resulting curler gave Philly it's first win on July 4th weekend.
2013
It was the Conor Casey show as the big striker set up Le Toux's opener and scored in the second half as Philly looked to have the points sealed up. Alas, a late handball let Real Salt Lake back into the match and in the 96th minute they equalized.
2014
Tesho Akindele opened the scoring but Amobi Okugo pulled one back for the Union. The gamewinner came from an unfortunate turn of events in which Fabinho blasted the ball off Sheanon Williams and into Philly's own net.
2015
The Union did not play over the July 4th holiday this year as everyone decided to take some time off after the unlikely scenario that doomed the team a year prior.
2016
Former Union playmaker Cristian "Chaco" Maidana resurfaced in Houston with a vengeance, driving home a late free kick to steal the points for the Dynamo. This marks the only July 4th match in which the Union have been held scoreless.
2017
Galvanized by their shutout loss a year earlier, Philly welcomed the New England Revolution with an onslaught. CJ Sapong struck from the penalty spot before Ilsinho and Roland Alberg starting showing off. The Brazilian went first, running onto a ball in the right channel and blasting a surprisingly powerful half-volley across the face of Cody Cropper's net. Late in the second half, Alberg one-upped his teammate with a breathtaking goal from well outside of the penalty box that nestled just under the crossbar.
2018
This year the Union face Atlanta United FC on July 7th. The Five Stripes are brimming with expensive talent, so Philly will need to be at their best to secure the points at home. Luckily, Jim Curtin should have his first choice midfield available once more as Haris Medunjanin returns from a suspension he received when the blue and gold went down to Atlanta in early June.
Make sure to purchase tickets here to celebrate America's birthday with the Philadelphia Union this Saturday, with kick off set for 7 p.m. ET.
