Quinn Sullivan found the back of the net but Philadelphia Union began its final regular season road trip with a 2-1 setback to Orlando City SC on Wednesday evening.
After neither side could notch a shot on target in the first half, it was substitutes from both sides making an impact on the back. After the hosts saw substitute forward Luis Muriel notch a pair of assists, the Union homegrown trimmed the deficit in half with his fourth goal of the regular season in the 72nd minute.
The Boys in Blue wrap up their road schedule for the MLS regular season on Saturday night as they battle defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew. Kick off from Ohio is set for 7:30PM ET with the match broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
How The Match Unfolded
Head Coach Jim Curtin shook up his starting lineup, making three changes to the group he'd used for the team's past two matches. With Andre Blake in net, Olivier Mbaizo joined the backline at right back opposite Kai Wagner while Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes stayed paired at centerback.
In the midfield, Danley Jean Jacques made his third start since signing with the team at the start of August, lining up alongside Alejandro Bedoya, Jack McGlynn, and Daniel Gazdag at the 10. As has become routine in recent months, Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo were the two attackers up top, making for a strong squad to start against a high-perfoming Orlando City side on the road.
20', Slow start for both sides | It was a slow opening 20 minutes for both sides as Orlando City maintained possession for the lion's share of that span. Head Coach Oscar Pareja's squad took seven shots, but they weren't able to find the opening goal, in part due to a locked-down defense effort from Jakob Glesnes.
45', Scoreless at half | The Union didn't find a chance of their own until the 21st minute,, and from there they took six more in the second half, though none were successful. Both teams retreated to the locker room with no goals to show for their first half of play, spurring a second half sub for the host team. Pareja swapped Iván Angulo for another Colombian player in forward Luis Muriel.
57', Orlando opens the scoring | The homeside unlocked the scoreless match on a quick counter attack as substitute Luis Muriel connected with Facundo Torres on a shot that crashed off the paw of Andre Blake but had enough on it to cross the goal line. The was a special one for the Uraguayan as he claimed the Orlando City SC all-time scoring record, surpassing Cyle Larin.
64', Orlando doubles the lead | Shortly after the Boys in Blue made their first changes of the evening sending on homegrowns Quinn Sullivan and Nathan Harriel in place of Bedoya and Mbaizo, it was the home side going up 2-0 on a goal from striker Duncan McGuire. It was another quick strike attack set up by Muriel as he dragged the Union defense past the center stripe and delivered through ball to McGuire for the one timer.
72', Quinn cuts the deficit in half | The run on goals scored by substitutes continued in the Union's favor as Quinn Sullivan made it a 2-1 scoreline with just under 20 minutes to play. Off a throw in from Kai Wagner, the left back got the ball to Daniel Gazdag for a dribble to the endline before the Hungarian cut it back to the six. The homegrown playmaker was perfectly placed for the pass as he kissed it off the crossbar and over the goal line.
79', Harriel header off Kai corner | With a goal on their pocket and needing a second, they nearly found that equalizer off a set piece as Kai Wagner sent a volley into the box. Aeriel Harriel was on full display as the defender was the first on it and headed it down into the pitch but his attempt go just wide of the far post.
