Chris Donovan’s second-half finished proved the difference as Philadelphia Union picked a 2-1 victory over Eastern Conference rivals New York City FC at Subaru Park on Saturday night.
Jose Martinez opened up the scoring in the first half that sent the Union faithful into the stratosphere with the midfielder finally getting a goal in Chester, PA. The Union doubled their lead when the substitute forward made the most of a mistake from the visitors that proved to be an important insurance goal as the visitors snuck one back late. Andre Blake like he’s done so many times in the past came up huge once more with clutch saves in stoppage time to send the Union into the 2023 Leagues Cup on a high.
The latest chapter in the Philadelphia versus New York City FC showed early on just how well versed both sides are with the other’s tactics. For the Union, it was a direct attack led by timely pressing from the top and aggressive tackles from the defense to generate chances. NYCFC on the other end looked to remain compact with all 11 players within 30 yards, forcing the Union away from their playmakers so they'd have to live on crosses out wide. Five minutes after the opening whistle, that’s the avenue the Union had to take with Olivier Mbaizo on the ball after a long spell of possession for the Boys in Blue. Team captain Alejandro Bedoya showed his veteran instinct with a run into the box to draw two defenders with him and an open channel on the right side for Mbaizo. With a patient touch with his boot, the Cameroonian went for the near post cross for Bedoya but the connection was just off the mark and snuck through for a diving catch from goalkeeper Luis Barraza.
Playing away from their unique field dimensions, the Cityzens didn’t stretch themselves in the attack. With a patient build up out wide, New York City got a chance from Keaton Parks in the seventh minute with the midfielder redirecting a cross from Mitja Ilenic well over the Union net. The visitors sought to make the most from set piece chances in the first half with the first resulting in an easy catch from Union goalkeeper Andre Blake in the 15th minute. Five minutes after the first free kick opportunity, New York City found itself with another on the opposite side of the pitch near their supporters’ section. A quick restart came right after the whistle from MatÃas Pellegrini as he ripped a cross that connected with Parks once more but the three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made the reaction punch to keep the match scoreless.
The defensive stop provided some energy in the crowd and the Boys in Blue felt it. The Union broke through five minutes later when New York City pushed numbers forward. Center back Jack Elliott timed a tackle in the box to deny Santiago Rodriguez and started the counter with a pass to homegrown Jack McGlynn. Turning forward, McGlynn got the ball to Daniel Gazdag to run the attack and the No. 10 did just that. Dribbling to his right to find an angle for a pass, Gazdag hit it perfectly with his right boot to send Quinn Sullivan on the right flank of the attack. Holding for a run from Mikael Uhre, the cross went to the far post. Uhre went to the near post with the defender to allow an unmarked finish at the post for Jose Martinez to make it 1-0.
With Subaru Park in a roar after El Brujo’s first goal in front of the home crowd, the Union were forced into an early change with Bedoya departing the contest. Head Coach Jim Curtin backed up his comments from his pre-game press conference and turned to Jesus Bueno to take the space in the midfield.
Philly nearly doubled its lead just past the half hour mark with an aggressive press and tackle from Jakob Glesnes. The Union defender poked the ball free toward Gazdag to set up a scoring chance close to the NYCFC net. The Hungarian quickly shot a pass to his quick for the homegrown Sullivan for a one-time blast with his right that forced a tough save by the keeper at the near post.
After the halftime break, the Union were keen to hold onto the clean sheet at the Fortress but remained aggressive when the chance to score came to them. In the 53rd minute, a corner kick presented that opportunity with Kai Wagner hitting a cross to the back post for an unmarked Bueno but NYCFC caught it late and headed it out.
After the Union’s corner kick chance, New York City got their own high percentage look with a hard cross from Ilenic that snuck through the Union defense for a far post finish from Kevin O'Toole that was skipped off his boot and well wide. Buoyed with confidence, Head Coach Nick Cushing made a trio of offensive-minded changes with James Sands, Andres Jasson and Thiago Martins entering in the 57th minute. With an all out attack from the visitors the Union looked to feast on the counter attack with Gazdag in charge of an attack at the hour mark but a slight hesitation from Uhre on his forward run allowed for defender Tayvon Gray to clear it away.
In the 70th minute New York seemed on the verge of getting the equalizer as substitute James Sands forced a turnover against Gazdag. With the Union a little bit out of formation, Matias Pellegrini led the attack and cut inside to pull Martinez out of position and pass to Rodriguez. With the defense shifted to one side, Pellegrini ran into box unmarked for the one timer but Wagner delivered a timely tackle to bring the attack to a sudden stop.
With 15 minutes left in the contest, reinforcements came for the Union with Leon Flach and Chris Donovan on for the homegrown duo of McGlynn and Sullivan. NYC committed even more into the attack but twice were turned away with clearances from Glesnes to protect the shutout.
After Bueno drew a stoppage in play and a free kick for the Union, the Boys in Blue put the match away with a cool finish off a mistake at the back. Jose Martinez took the free kick on the Union’s side of the pitch and hit a rope to the left side of the attack for Wagner to collect. A centering pass for Uhre turned into a dummy play for Donovan. Battling a New York midfielder for possession, the Drexel graduate tipped a pass to Gazdag and continued his run hard into the box. The Hungarian hit a back-heeled pass into the box for the Union forward and with it created confusion in the back for both Barraza and Gray. Making a sliding challenge to collect the ball, New York goalkeeper Barraza missed and saw the ball crash off Gray and to a wide open Donovan who put it home to make it 2-0.
New York City spoiled the shut out in the 86th minute with a cross into the box that fought Andres Jasson near the penalty spot. The forward ripped a shot that was blocked with a slide effort from Mbaizo but the rebound came right back to Jasson who tapped it in for the 2-1 scoreline.
Tension raced through Subaru Park but Blake turned into his namesake and became a brick wall that refused to allow anything past him. NYCFC was left frustrated twice as they were caught offside and still tried to score but Dre said no way.
In the final seconds, New York City had their chance. Gray attled Wagner up the pitch and kept possession and sent a pass on the ground to the playmaker Rodriguez. Forced to account for the midfieler outside the box and not one to shoot from distance, he instead went out wide to Kevin O’Toole for a cross that forced a missed bicycle attempt from Pellegrini. The ball however went right to Gabriel Pereira for the blast that Blake denied with a kick save.
Philadelphia Union and the rest of Major League Soccer now turn their attention to the inaugural Leagues Cup that kicks off next weekend. A monumental new chapter for North American soccer, MLS and LIGA MX will pause their respective league seasons each summer and all 47 first division clubs in Canada, Mexico and the United States will compete in the World Cup-style tournament. The Union kick off the tournament at Subaru Park on Saturday, July 22nd as they face off against Club Tijuana. Limited tickets for the contest still remain and will kick off at 8PM ET with the contest broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FS1 and Univision.
