Philadelphia Union's big three set the tone early in the first half that powered the Boys in Blue to a resounding 5-1 victory over rivals New York City FC on Wednesday night.
Tai Baribo, Mikael Uhre and Daniel Gazdag combined for goals in a 16-minute burst to propel the Union to a three-goal lead just past the half hour mark. New York City FC thought it had turned momentum in their favor just before the break with a stoppage time goal however the Union weathered the hosts best punches courtesy of a standout performance from goalkeeper Andrew Rick. The 18-year-old made six of his seven saves in the final half to stave off any chance of NYCFC from getting back in the contest which allowed the league's best set piece offense to get to work late with Kai Wagner tying the club record of assists (50) in the 74th minute as he connected with Jakob Glesnes. Jesus Bueno notched his third goal of the season late in the contest to make it 5-1 and put the Union back above the playoff line.
Philadelphia Union returns to Subaru Park for a national TV showdown against rivals D.C. United on Sunday evening. The match presented by Widener University, will serve a Kick Childhood Cancer Night and Phang's Birthday. Limited tickets for the conference clash can be purchased by clicking here with kick off set for 6PM ET.
How The Match Unfolded
Philadelphia Union fielded a team missing Andre Blake for a second straight match after he returned from international duties with injury discomfort. Without him, 18-year-old Homegrown Andrew Rick took over in net again, making his sixth start as a first team keeper. He started against Inter Miami on Saturday, but this time, there was a pair of personnel changes in the starting defense in front of him. Because Jack Elliott was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation, Nathan Harriel lined up at centerback alongside Jakob Gleses, while Olivier Mbaizo started at right back opposite Kai Wagner on the left. Head Coach Jim Curtin made another change in the midfield, starting team captain Alejandro Bedoya while Quinn Sullivan was listed on the bench.
15', Mbaizo finds Baribo for an early goal | For a third straight match, Philadelphia Union claimed an early lead, this time pulling ahead 1-0 in the 15th minute. Kai Wagner started the play from the corner, servicing in a ball that was first headed away by New York City's defense. Olivier Mbaizo followed through on the rebound, heading it toward Tai Baribo who grazed it with his own head to put it past New York City's Matt Freese in net. The former Union Homegrown got a hand on it, but it took a favorable bounce over the line giving Philadelphia a 1-0 advantage.
25', Mikael Uhre doubles the score | Mikael Uhre has scored a first-half goal each of the team's past three matches, this time hitting the back of the net in the 25th minute to extend Philadelphia's lead to 2-0. Wagner sent a forward pass toward Uhre, but Baribo was the one who recovered it and dribbled it out of traffic to Uhre up for a shot to the back right corner.
30', Rick The Brick | With the Union up a pair of goals, NYCFC nearly turned momentum in their favor when Tayvon Gray floated a cross into the box that had the Union backline caught flat footed. Keaton Parks timed his run perfectly to get in unmarked but his shot was turned aside on a reaction save from homegrown Andrew Rick.
31', Gazdag makes it three | The momentum on the defnsive side kept quickly turned into a third goal as Daniel Gazdag capitalized on a Freese error in front of the net. Jack McGlynn sent a pinpint pass toward Tai Baribo for a header, but Freese bobbled it, giving the Hungarian the opportunity to challenge him for a tap in which created the 3-0 lead.
45'+5, NYC gets one back | Right before halftime, New York City's Alonso Martinez scored the hosts first goal of the game and his 12th of the season. His contribution made the score 3-1 before both teams retreated for the lockerooms.
60', Rick's Flying Save | The hosts came out of the lockeroom with a pair of changes with Mitja Ilenic and Maxi Moralez adding extra offensive creation in the condenced pitch of Yankee Stadium. Ilenic on one of his first touches of the match nearly trimmed the deficit to one as he unleashed a blast from just inside the box that was pushed aside on a leaping effort from Rick to protect the upper 90.
66', Save of the Month Nomination Secured | Another NYCFC substitute nearly made it 3-2 on the scorebard as a long punt up the field end with a flicked touch from Mounsef Bakrar. Coming off a slight glance from Keaton Parks about 20 yards from goal, Bakrar barely got a toe on the ball as Nathan Harriel tried to shield the attacker from his keeper. The flick went over Rick but he hustled back and put his body on the line to push it away from its intended destination.
74', Wagner ties history as Union get a fourth | The best set piece offense in MLS struck again with just over 15 minutes left in the contest as Kai Wagner whipped in a cross that connected on a towering header from Jakob Glesnes. Not only did the goal re-establish the club's three-goal advantage but it was the German left back's 50th career assist in MLS play which ties the club record with Sebastien Le Toux.
85', Bueno makes it five | The Boys in Blue didn't hold back against their Eastern Conference rival as the trio of second-half substitutes of Samuel Adeniran, Quinn Sullivan and Jesus Bueno combined to add a fifth with little time remaining. It was another quick attack into the box with a left-footed blast from the Venezualan midfielder beating Freese.
