After helping Philadelphia Union knock off rivals New York Red Bulls on Sunday night, Kai Wagner has been selected for the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Wagner turned in a club record performance against the Eastern Conference rival with three assists in the victory in front of the Union faithful. Wagner also set up the opening goal but wasn't credited with an assist with his corner kick in the 29th minute being punched out the visiting keeper before the Union's equalizer.
The left back's first official assist came in the 57th minute off a free kick in the offensive zone. Wagner hit a left-footed blast right into the six where center back Damion Lowe battled Andres Reyes and won with a diving finish to make it 2-1 for the Boys in Blue.
A one-goal lead quickly became two as the Union again took possession and went hunting for another goal. Alejandro Bedoya won possession and hit a cross to the far side of the field for Wagner to race onto. The left back hit a difficult pass into the ground that went between a pair of Red Bulls and right to Julian Carranza for a left-footed shot that nearly tore a whole in the yellow netting and had the Union up 3-1 in a matter a minutes.
The Union continued to feed a hot boot and put Wagner on the ball. Seeing Gazdag in a full sprint toward goal, Wagner timed a perfectly weight pass to spring him 1v1 against the keeper which the Hungarian deposited into the back of the net to claim sole possession of second place in club history for goals scored.
With the latest inclusion in the league's matchday honors, Philadelphia Union have had eight different players recognized in 2023: Julian Carranza (Matchday 1, 15, 17, 21), Daniel Gazdag (Matchday 1, 8, 25), Jakob Glesnes (Matchday 6), Mikeal Uhre (Matchday 9), Damion Lowe (Matchday 11), Kai Wagner (Matchday 12 and Matchday 30), Jose Martinez (Matchday 20) and Jack Elliott (Matchday 25).
Philadelphia Union is back in action after the FIFA International Window break on Saturday, September 16th when they host Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati. The match also serves as the club's Kick Childhood Cancer and Phang's Birthday Celebration. Kick off from Subaru Park is set for 7:30PM ET.
