Gazdag Nets Hat Trick, Union Beat Nashville 3-0 for Second Straight Win
Kyle Ross/USA TODAY
Jim Curtin and his Philadelphia Union squad were in a quicksand period (1 win in 17, winless in 10) and things just kept going wrong. They had not won two straight since the week of March 23-April 6, three straight wins culminating with a win at Nashville. They had not won two straight home games since fixtures on Aug. 19th & Sep. 3. of 2023 (against Monterey and NY Red Bulls). They had equaled their combined home losses from 2021 to the beginning of this season and Andre Blake had no clean sheets this year, although he has battled injuries.
The Union now have two wins and two hat tricks in their last two fixtures.
Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the New England Revolution seemed to have lifted a weight off the Union’s shoulders as Jim Curtin’s team rolled out the welcome mat Saturday night for interim coach Rumba Munthali’s Nashville FC, who sat two points ahead of Philadelphia, coming off five straight losses themselves. B.J. Callaghan will officially take over for Nashville on July 22 ahead of Leagues Cup 2024.
Following Thai Baribo’s hat trick Wednesday, Philadelphia started Saturday’s contest looking very free-flowing in their passing and link-up play offensively. While it wasn’t a true shot or threat, they did force goalkeeper Joe Willis to get his hands on the ball within two minutes. Quinn Sullivan was also a lively figure and had a shot blocked in the 5th minute before Daniel Gazdag got the ball rolling (figuratively when you hear the finish) five minutes later.
The Union worked the ball well on the right side before getting the ball to the foot of Leon Flach at the top of the box. He took his touch first time, playing an entry ball to Gazdag’s foot straight through the center channel of the defense. With his back to the goal, Gazdag took a good first touch, rolling toward his left shoulder and away from the goal. As Willis started to come out to cut down the angle, Gazdag used his right foot to lift a cheeky chip over him and into the net behind the helpless keeper.
The Union continued to stay on the attack throughout the first half, Gazdag and Jose Martinez each forcing saves from Willis before Gazdag struck for number two in the 38th minute. Goal number two was from roughly the same area, this one coming off a set piece with a different authority to the finish from Gazdag.
A Union free kick, from just inside their defensive half, was hit to the edge of Nashville’s box. Nashville won the header away from goal right off the studs of Quinn Sullivan. The touch by Sullivan’s studs was just enough to get the ball forward to Mikael Uhre. Uhre turned toward his left foot and then, sneakily, played the ball into the path of Gazdag’s run with the outside of his right cleat. Rather than take a touch to set himself like last time, this time Gazdag let it run across to his right side and, driving into it on his first touch, blew it past the right hand of Willis. The Union were heading into halftime with the lead again.
While the Union attack was looking sharp, Nashville presented much more of an attacking threat than New England did on Wednesday, and they almost got themselves right back into the game to start the second half. In the 50th minute, Nashville was attacking down the left-hand side. A low cross was played in, and Blake got his fingers to the ball. Fortunately for him, his teammates, and the home crowd, the ball deflected wide off some oncoming Nashville legs, just going out for a goal kick. In the 67th minute defender Brent Kallman came straight through the Union defense to meet a free header with conviction, the ball rattling off the woodwork above Blake, who was clearly beaten.
With the game still hanging in the balance, Blake made his best save of the night in the 85th minute. Nashville substitute Teal Bunbury worked a give-and-go with Hany Mukhtar and was able to catch the chipped return ball on the volley, as it was coming down, from eight yards out. Blake dove with a strong right hand and pushed it out wide for a corner kick.
Gazdag sealed the game, and his hat trick, in the 89th minute on an unfortunate play if you are a Nashville supporter. Relieving pressure in their defensive zone, Kallman played the ball in the center of his box. Kallman went to play the ball, and, with really no pressure, his feet went out from under him. Gazdag was quick to pounce on the ball then showed great composure dribbling around Willis and calmly tucking the ball into the back of the net for the Union’s second straight hat trick.
I hope to be fair in my assessment of the Philadelphia Union and, as tough as this team has been to watch at times, this “three goals and three points” thing they have working over the last two games has been pretty fun and impressive. I understand the competition has been New England and Nashville, both bottom-of-table teams, but the energy has been different, and the squad seems to have an urgency and creativity now that seemed sorely lacking. All in all, the Union went winless in ten and had one win in seventeen, yet still remain in contention for the MLS playoffs. Not every game moving forward will feature a hat trick and a win but with this kind of effort, and the team seeming to be as close to full strength as they have been in a while, we can only hope the end of the season makes the anguish at the beginning of the season worth it.
The Union continue this home stretch next Saturday when they welcome Charlotte FC for Fireworks Night. Charlotte beat the Union 2-0 just over a month ago at Subaru Park. Gametime is 8pm EST on Apple TV+.
Union Notes
Sam Adeniran was acquired via trade from STL City for 150k in General Allocation Money this year, 200k next, and 100k in 2026 if incentives are met. Most do not expect him to be here after his contract expires at the end of the season as he’s reported to be heading to Austrian professional football club LASK. He came on to make his Union debut in the 61st minute when the two yellow-card holders were subbed off (D. Lowe, M. Uhre) although Jack Elliott immediately got a yellow when he came on for Lowe.
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