Another gritty playoff-like matchup took place at Subaru Park on Saturday night as Philadelphia Union battled Nashville SC to a scoreless draw.
Head Coach Jim Curtin’s squad returned to the 4-4-2 diamond but featured a unique centerbacks duo as Damion Lowe and Jakob Glesnes paired up. Up top, Curtin rested Mikael Uhre who scored one of three goals in Philadelphia’s win against Atlanta United on Wednesday, opting for Quinn Sullivan alongside Carranza instead.
The defensive minded Nashville SC side came out of the gates looking to strike first as they strung together a series of quick passes centrally. Premiere playmaker Hany Mukhtar was on the ball early trying to feed Teal Bunbury for a shot in the middle of the box. Jakob Glesnes slid for the block, preventing what would’ve been a point blank blast from the veteran striker.
Philadelphia found their first shot of the game in the ninth minute when homegrown Jack McGlynn used his lethal left foot to boot the ball from distance but saw the effort go high.
Taking advantage of their next possession, Bunbury matched with a Nashville shot from the top of the box but a swift and attentive Jose Martinez dove for the block. The effort left the Venezuelan on the ground shaken up but ultimately he continued on after getting check out by the Union training staff.
Nashville continued to build their defensive reputation through the half, forcing the Union to be clinical in their decisions on the attacking end. Philadelphia was up to the challenge, carefully passing through the 20th minute until finding the best gap in their pressure. McGlynn used his left foot again, finding Daniel Gazdag for a header that nearly took a path keeper Joe Willis couldn’t stop, but it was saved. They took a similar approach in the 23rd minute, relying on short and quick passes, only giving up possession when Carranza was called for a foul.
José Martinez picked up one of his own moments after but in the form of a yellow card booking in the 24th minute. The card pushed him into another accumulation suspension, forcing him to miss the team’s Decision Day matchup against New England Revolution on October 21.
With Nashville dropping into a flat back five to defend the 18-yard-box, it presented opportunities from long range just outside the box. Bedoya took advantage of the chance, taking a big boot in the 28th minute, which nearly became a Daniel Gazdag tap in but saved by Willis. Martinez followed suit, putting his final regular season minutes to use with a a shot from distance of his own, but the Brujo blast soared too wide and right.
As Philadelphia attempted to penetrate Nashville’s air-tight defense throughout the first half, Union homegrowns found the gaps, with Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan, and McGlynn contributing for six assists and two shots through the first 45 minutes.
McGlynn took the second of his two first half shots in the 43rd minute from outside the box, but he was blocked. Bedoya closed the half with his second shot of the game, again saved by Willis.
Nashville claimed the first two chances of the second half, with Randall Leal missing left from the box and Blake saving a Bunbury header. Philadelphia responded with one of their own when Gazdag found Carranza outside of the box, but the shot was saved.Bunbury took another in the 51st minute, this time assisted by Leal, but missed his top left corner shot.
The Philly homegrowns continued to impress in the second half, with Quinn Sullivan using his final play on the pitch to collect the ball from close range, and hesitate for a Nate Harriel shot close to the net. After the play, Mikael Uhre replaced him off the bench, adding fresh legs to the team’s attack.
McGlynn continued to take advantage of Nashville’s formation, taking another shot from distance after a Kai Wagner pass, but his effort was stifled by an attentive Zimmerman. The ensuing corner found the head of Bedoya who knocked it toward the goal, but Willis maintained composure saving his fifth shot of the game.Â
Daniel Gazdag attempted to break through Nashville’s defense with a long range shot of his own in the 60th minute, but like his teammates' persistent attempts, the ball was saved.Â
Gary Smith turned to his loaded bench in the 66th minute, sending in Sam Surridge and Alex Muyl for some added depth on both sides of the pitch. Though Surridge’s MLS regular season stat sheet doesn’t show it yet, the 25-year-old Designated Player from Nottingham Forest has quickly proven to be a playmaker for Nashville, contributing three goals in the inaugural Leagues Cup tournament.
The Union sought to catch Nashville SC on the counter attack as a pass out wide to Bedoya forced Zimmerman out of position. Quickly turning up the sideline, the captain was clipped by the USMNT defender but hit a pass forward to Uhre to continue the attack that ultimately rolled out for a goal kick. While the Union didn’t get the scoring chance it did mark the second Nashville center back on a yellow, something Philly’s big three sought to exploit late in the match.Â
The whistle was ringing again in the 74th minute as Gazdag drew a free kick opportunity just outside the visitor’s 18 when he was taken down by Leal. A trio of Union players stood over the ball from 20 yards out in front of the River End. Carranza went for the opening goal, with a right-footed efforted that snuck through the wall but crashed off a defender and out.
Philadelphia Union gets a bit of a break due to the FIFA International Window with the squad concluding its 2023 MLS regular season at the New England Revolution. The Decision Day clash will kick off at 6PM ET on Saturday, October 21st, and will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
