Late Game Heroics Send Union Into Conference Semis

Number two seed Philadelphia Union took down number seven seed New York Red Bulls in a close rivalry game.

The Union were a little short-staffed Saturday night missing key players Jamiro Monteiro (centre mid) and Olivier Mbazio (right back) but still managed a victory.

However, Union star Ilsinho Jr. was back on the roster after being out several weeks. Also, 18 year old Paxten Aaronson (brother of former Union star Brendan Aaronson) got the start tonight for the Union and played great making many key passes and beating players off the dribble.

After many missed chances by both teams the game went into extra time leveled at 0-0. The first 15 minutes of extra time were pretty uneventful besides two missed chances by the Red Bulls and good save made by Andre Blake and the score remained 0-0.

However, the last second half of extra time included an incredible goal and many missed chances. New York Red Bull player Kyle Duncan hit the post early on into the second half and Union get lucky. With many stoppages in the half the fourth official decided there will be three minutes of stoppage time. In the 123rd minute Union center back Jakob Glesnes decided to take the game into his own hands. The Norwegian God hammered a volley into the bottom corner to put up Union 1- 0.

Believe me when I tell you this, I have never heard Subaru Park louder, the energy ecstatic.

With that, the final whistle was blown and the Union would move on to the Eastern semi-finals on Sunday afternoon at 5:30pm ET in Chester against Nashville SC or Orlando City SC, who play Tuesday night.

This article was written by my friend Jackson Edlestein, who is covering the Union for the site this postseason.