Jakob Glesnes found the back of the net as Philadelphia Union battled FC Cincinnati on Friday night in Clearwater, Florida. Despite the 4-1 setback, the 120-minute contest saw 25 different players on the pitch.
Facing its 2025 home opener opponent, Head Coach Bradley Carnell’s side featured a third different lineup for the preseason with goalkeeper Andre Blake in net behind a pair of returning starters Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner while Olwethu Makhanya and newly signed homgrown Frankie Westfield rounded out the backline. The midfield saw another fresh face with Jovan Lukic getting the nod in the lineup at the opening whistle alongside Danley Jean Jacques, Daniel Gazdag and Quinn Sullivan. The striker duo of Mikael Uhre and new No. 9 Tai Baribo led the front line of the Union’s 4-2-2-2 formation.
The Boys in Blue needed only eight minutes to open the scoring with a set piece finish. After intense pressure led to a free kick and subsequent corner opportunity, Philly’s all-time leader in assists, Kai Wagner was pin perfect with a left-footed cross as he connected with Jakob Glesnes for the goal.
After establishing the lead, Philly’s defense was tested just past the half hour mark when the Ohio side sought to equalize with a corner kick of their own. With a near post service, midfielder Pavel Bucha flicked a header that snuck past the Union keeper but Westfield was on his toes at the back post to clear a potential goal off the line.
With a big defensive stand on one side of the pitch, Westfield turned offensive playmaker on the attending end with a strong run into the box before cutting a hard pass centrally. The ball trickled to Lukic for the one timer but the Serbian put a little too much weight on the shot as it rose over the bar.
The Union made a trio of changes for the second 45-minute period as homegrown signing Neil Pierre replaced Glesnes at center back, Jesus Bueno entered for Lukic and Chris Donovan took over at the top of the lineup for Baribo. As the new pieces grew into the match, Westfield was once again into the attack. Less than a minute into the second period of the contest, the X-year-old diced up the Ohio defense before sending perfectly weighted pass for Danley to run onto for a shot. The Haitian was denied the strong goal however with a diving attempt from a defender keeping the scoreline unchanged.
Philly’s pressure was nonstop and began to open up the match as Gazdag found space just before the hour mark. The Union No. 10 tracked back to collect the ball in the attacking third then spun around to gauge the retreating FC Cincinnati defense. The Hungarian quickly shot a rolling pass to the right side for Quinn Sullivan who went 1v1 against his marker before hitting a low cross that beat the keeper but was cleared away before Uhre could tap it home at the back post.
FC Cincinnati got two opportunities in four minutes and were clinical to nab a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute. The equalize came from Bucha as he intercepted pass and took it the distance to sneak it under Blake. A few minutes later, outside back DeAndre Yedlin sent in a cross that snuck through and allowed an opportunity for Obi Nwobodo to hit a shot off the post and in.
Wholesale changes came in the 75th minute for both teams with the Union employing an unique backline due to some injuries. Isaiah LeFlore and Neil Pierre paired up with Jeremy Rafanello and Nick Pariano while the Union midfield saw Alejandro Bedoya and Jesus Bueno play in front of the group while David Vazquez and Cavan Sullivan played higher up the pitch and on the flanks. Chris Donovan and Markus Anderson rounded out the lineup with pace on the front line.
FC Cincinnati added another goal in the 86th minute with another attack up the wing this time from Ben Augee. The attacker floated a cross over the Union defense inside the box and saw it finished off Bret Halsey to double their lead.
As with most preseason matches, the game went beyond the typical 90 minutes with Oliver Semmle, Eddy Davis III, CJ Olney and 2023 MLS SuperDraft selection Stas Korzeniowski making appearances in the extra time.
Philadelphia Union concludes its preseason slate of matches against another Eastern Conference opponent, this time against CF Montreal at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate on Friday, February 14th.
Following the completion of preseason, the Union will open their 2025 regular season campaign on February 22, when they travel to face Orlando City SC at Inter & Co Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia Union Lineup
Andre Blake (Oliver Semmle 90'); Kai Wagner (Isaiah LeFlore 75'), Olwethu Makhanya (Alejandro Bedoya 75’), Jakob Glesnes (Neil Pierre 45'), Frankie Westfield (Nick Pariano 75'); Danley (Jeremy Rafanello 62’), Jovan Lukic (Jesus Bueno 45'), Quinn Sullivan (David Vazquez 62', CJ Olney 98’), Daniel Gazdag (Cavan Sullivan 75’); Mikael Uhre (Markus Anderson 75’, Eddy Davis III 90’), Tai Baribo (Chris Donovan 45’, Stas Korzeniowski 98’).
