Union get third straight win, beat Charlotte FC 1-0 to open Leagues Cup group play

The Philadelphia Union opened Leagues Cup competition home at Subaru Park for the third straight match. Their opponent was a familiar one, Charlotte FC, a team they have now faced almost once a month for the past three months. Two months ago, the teams played to a nil-nil draw down in Charlotte, NC while Charlotte used a Patrick Agyemang brace at the end of June to take down the Union 2-0 in Chester, PA. This particular Charlotte squad was playing their fourth road game in a row before they return home Wednesday to battle Liga MX squad Cruz Azul.

Jim Curtin sent out his squad in their usual 4-4-2 with new addition Samuel Adeniran up top on the left and Tai Baribo to the right, Mikael Uhre on the bench. Adeniran was making his first start for Philadelphia since being traded to the team from St. Louis in mid-July. The Union midfield was probably its best shape, Daniel Gazdag the top point and Jose Martinez the hard-tackling go-between for the backline. Alejandro Bedoya and Quinn Sullivan manned the wings in front of a back four of Wagner, Elliott, Glesnes, and Mbaizo, all of whom have been happy to see Andre Blake back in goal. In a strange start to the contest, Martinez was given a yellow card before kickoff, for what I am still unclear.

This match featured two teams that, when right, are very good defensively so you would have to take advantage of your opportunities. The Union won their first one in the 4th minute, getting the opening corner though Charlotte cleared with little trouble.

Philadelphia continued to threaten through the air as Jack Elliott missed a header wide in the 13th and Baribo high in the 16th, both on crosses from Wagner. Colombian forward Kerwin Vargas began to stir the pot himself for Charlotte down their attacking right, having a shot blocked in the 9th minute and missing high and wide in the 28th. The Union then blocked two more shots, one each from Ben Bender and Iuri Taveras, before the Man of the Match registered the only tally of the night.

In the 32nd minute, the Union went on the attack from the right touchline. Olivier Mbaizo rolled a ball to the middle of the pitch that just got to Adeniran past the foot of a Charlotte defender. He controlled nicely with his left foot before playing forward for Daniel Gazdag to get onto at the end line. Gazdag’s cross back hit the in-step of his defender, the ball deflecting to Baribo, who had stepped back to lose his marker in the center of the box. Baribo, who has five goals in four games, neatly tucked the ball into the left corner beating Kristijan Kahlina to his right.

Charlotte had their best chance of the night just out of halftime in the 48th minute. Iuri Tavares bent a great ball straight into the run of Agyemang, just behind Glesnes on the left side. Jack Elliott got over to cover in time to slow Agyemang down, forcing him to try and dribble before getting back to his left foot and firing wide into the side netting. Philadelphia remained committed defensively, clearing the box strongly and blocking quite a few shots throughout the game, ultimately allowing Andre Blake to keep a clean sheet without having to make a save.

The Boys in Blue had their opportunities to put the game away late but Kahlina came up big to deny Baribo a brace and keep Charlotte alive. After a darting Quinn Sullivan run down the right-hand side, he was able to lay it back to the striker who danced around a defender and then slotted a right foot shot for the corner. Kahlina got down fast and, with a strong left wrist, pushed the shot away for a corner. The ensuing corner was met a the near-post by Jakub Glesenes who perfectly flicked it to the far corner. Kahlina was beat yet bailed out when Daniel Gazdag needlessly got a foot to the ball from an offside position as it was crossing the goal line.

The Union opened up their Leagues Cup campaign tonight with a good three points and, in what has been a trying season all around so far, have now won three straight games (home games no less) and are within shouting distance of a playoff spot in the MLS table. Their next chance to keep the momentum rolling will be Sunday, August 4th when they host Liga MX squad Cruz Azul for game two of Leagues Cup group play. Gametime is 8:00pm EST and available on AppleTV+.

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