Philadelphia Union saw its unblemished start in league play come to an end on Saturday night, falling to Real Salt Lake by a 2-1 margin on a late goal.
Philadelphia Union returned to their fortress of Subaru Park, having kept their unbeaten streak alive since their last home match against Minnesota United on March 30th. Head Coach Jim Curtin trotted out a strong lineup featuring an unsurprising defensive group in Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes paired at centerback with Nate Harriel and Kai Wagner at right and left back. There were changes elsewhere, team captain Alejandro Bedoya joined the midfield, and Quinn Sullivan was pushed forward with Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza, while Mikael Uhre started on the bench after missing some training due to the birth of his second child. Alongside him on the list of available substitutes was Leon Flach, who appeared on the matchday roster for the very first time this year. He suffered a pectoral injury during preseason in Clearwater, Florida, but diligent rehab between Germany and the Union’s facilities brought about a speedy return.
The game kicked off in front of a packed Subaru Park crowd, many fresh off their Grand Opening experience at the team’s new pre- and post-game tailgating destination, Union Yards. Their enthusiasm was unmissable from minute one, when the team was met with a booming chant from the River End.
Real Salt Lake took the first shot of the match in the fourth minute after a kick from Andre Blake was deflected by a persistent opponent advancing toward him in the box. From there the ball lingered on RSL’s attacking end, in their possession until Chicho Arango took a shot from the top of the box that went above the net and out of play. Philly responded with a string of promising plays in their following possession, but none unfolded in their favor.
Blake’s first save since leaving their last match against Atlanta before the start second half due to injury came in the 7th minute, when a powerful shot from Quinn Sullivan ricocheted just as hard off an opponent in the opposite direction, giving Salt Lake an advantage and Andrés Gomez an opportunity to try to score. The Union’s three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year got back in position quickly to make a save in the bottom left corner.
It was back and forth for the opening 10 minutes, with the Union finding a shot of their own shortly after when Julian Carranza danced around defender Justen Glad to take a similar shot, saved in the bottom left.
Kai Wagner created some space with a quick juke to get his team out of trouble on their defensive end, stringing the start of a run from Jack McGlynn to Quinn Sullivan up the left side. The Homegrown beat his mark with speed, but he was taken down with no call awarded in his favor.
In the 14th minute, Sullivan continued to create on the attack, sending a lifted cross dropping into the box, but Carranza’s header deflected off of an RSL defender and went soaring above. Kai Wagner took a corner, and even though it didn’t pan out, the team kept possession on their end, pressing forward for an aggressive attack.
Real Salt Lake's Fidel Barajas dangerously close to Blake in the 25th minute after an effective move against Martinez, but as he geared up to shoot, Elliott game sliding in for a tackle that earned his team the ball back.
The next possession saw a Sullivan shot from the top of the box in the 26th minute, but his effort was saved. The pressure on Sullivan was unrelenting throughout the first half, and a call finally went his way in the 29th minute, giving Wagner a free kick that finished in a Gazdag header, but it went out of play.
Salt Lake’s physicality continued, but so did the Union’s aggressive attack. A series of skillful passes between Sullivan and Gazdag resulted in the ideal set up for McGlynn, who hasn’t scored yet this year. The pinpoint passer had his chance for a shot that looked near-perfect when he struck it, instead of hitting the back of the net, it slammed into Bedoya, who unintentionally blocked in.
Unfavorably for the Union, Real Salt Lake found the opening goal in the 34th minute with a favorable bounce leading to a strong finish from Gomez. With the Union's focus on Chicho, Elliott pushed high up field to block a touch however the deflected ball fell right into the path of RSL's leading man. He quickly turned the play into an advantage with numbers on both sides as he raced toward the 18. He laid off a pass to his right for Gomez who uncorked a cannon that Blake stopped at first but his punch went straight into the air, and landed back down in front of the net then over the line.
Down to start the second half, the Boys in Blue continued their comeback narrative with leading man Daniel Gazdag sending Subaru Park into a frenzy with a back-heeled goal off a pass from Sullivan to knot the score 1-1. With the score, Gazdag further decreased the gap between he and Sebastian LeToux’s scoring totals, meaning the next time he hits the back of the net, he’ll become the club’s all-time leading goal scorer.
The match heated up in the 57th minute, when Jose Martinez went down in pain at the top of the box, and a brawl ensued between both teams. Two yellow cards were shown after the incident, one to Salt Lake’s Brayan Vera, and one to Glesnes.
Head Coach Pablo Maestroeni made his first change of the match in the 58th minute, sending in Anderson Julio for Barajas. Philly answered with a swap of their own with Mikael Uhre taking the place atop the Union lineup in place of Quinn Sullivan. The change nearly paid dividends shortly after the Danish forward took to the pitch as the Union went for a more patient build up. They quickly turned the screw McGlynn threading the needle with a through ball into the box that Carranza led roll through for Harriel in stride. The homegrown quickly shot a cutback pass across the Utah goal and barely connected with Uhre as he crashed toward the near post.
With 10 minutes remaining, both teams battled in search of a potential game winning strike. Brujo Martinez nearly found one for the Boys in Blue in the 84th minute with a blast from 25 yards out that forced a save.
However the visitors would deliver the game’s third and final goal with a one of a kind finish from Alex Katranis that will be nominated for MLS Goal of the Year. Off a set piece, the Union were the first to the ball with a headed clearance well outside the 18. The RSL defender took a chance, with a one timer off the volley that curled inside the far post to make it 2-1 and end the Union’s unbeaten start in league play.
The match heated up in the 57th minute, when Jose Martinez went down in pain at the top of the box, and a brawl ensued between both teams. Two yellow cards were shown after the incident, one to Salt Lake’s Brayan Vera, and one to Glesnes.
Philadelphia Union is back in action on Tuesday night as they resumed their postponed contest against Seattle Sounders FC on April 30th. Kick off from Subaru Park is set for 7:30PM ET.
