Gazdag’s two goals lead Union to second straight win, beat D.C. United 4-0

The MLS regular season is winding down and the playoff push is in full force. Both the Philadelphia Union and DC United had 5 games remaining and sat at 33 points (10th & 12th) heading into Sunday’s fixture, making their clash at Subaru Park all the more vital for both teams. These teams last met in early May, the Union coming from 2 nil down to equalize late on a long-distance strike from Jack McGlynn. This time, three returning Union starters gave the game a very different feel from the beginning.

Jim Curtin‘s three changes, from their midweek, road thrashing of NYCFC, started with Andre Blake returning to action in goal for the first time since August 31st. He played ninety minutes against the other New York team, Red Bulls, in that fixture but has been unavailable since. Also, with the short turnaround, Quinn Sullivan got a start replacing Alejandro Bedoya on the right side of the midfield diamond. The final change was the return of Jack Elliott to left central defender, alongside Jakub Glesnes, allowing Nathan Harriel to return to his right-back position in place of Olivier Mbaizo. The impact of all these changes was felt before the clock struck twenty minutes.

D.C. United came out eager to bring Andre Blake back into the swing of things, Pedro Santos stinging his palms with a long-range effort in the fifth minute as a welcoming gift. Just six minutes later, Blake got his next opportunity courtesy of Mateusz Klich. Aaron Herrera found himself in space down the right attacking side, working his way to the edge of the box before picking his pass out. His choice was to click it back into the run of Klich, his shot from twenty yards out bending away towards the far corner. Blake used a strong push right to parry away the chest-high shot with both hands, keeping the Union from facing an early deficit, a big problem early this season.

Blake’s early saves brought the Union into the game and, on this night, their offensive orchestrators soon started playing their symphony down the right-hand side.

In the 13th minute, D.C. United were under some pressure and cleared the ball out towards midfield. The Union took down the clearance and played wide to Sullivan on the wing. He stared down the double-team of Gabriel Pirani and Santos before managing to dribble his way through the middle of both and get into the box. He then managed to touch the ball by, and power past, Boris Enow Takang to get to the goal line. He played an expert ball across the face of the box for a wide-open Mikael Uhre to turn in on the back post. Alex Bono was left helpless and the Union were once again off on the right foot (off a right foot).

The new starting duo on the right side was at it again minutes later, helping to double the Union lead.

Harriel found himself running along the touchline about thirty yards from goal. He played inside to Sullivan, who worked the give-and-go and rolled the return feed into the path of Harriel’s continued run. Harriel’s low cross was snuffed out by Christopher McVey but Daniel Gazdag got to the ball before two other United players reacted. He took one touch forward before smashing his right-foot shot into the far-side netting. Bono’s right hand flashed up but he was clearly beaten. Gazdag had his first of two on the night.

Jim Curtin’s moves had helped land his team a two-nil lead but, as evidenced by their last matchup, that could disappear if you let off the gas. Philadelphia would decide to leave nothing to chance Sunday.

Gazdag and Sullivan were again involved when the Union took a three-goal lead in the 51st minute. Sullivan started the attack playing past pressure to Uhre on the touchline. Uhre played down the channel for Gazdag to run onto. Gazdag got to the ball, parallel to the six-yard box, but Herrera was there a second later to block the cross attempt. Sullivan swooped in to recover the ball and, again, he faced two defenders as Enow Takang and Herrera watched him inside the box. He was once again able to bully Takang to the end line and drive a high cross all the way through the box. Tai Baribo, the man with nine goals in twelve MLS regular season games this year, rose up to meet it with his head and the Union had another goal that Bono had no shot to save.

In the 69th minute, Gazdag was able to put the nail in the coffin and pull himself even closer in the MLS Golden Boot race, now just two back of Christian Benteke (who the Union kept off the scoresheet again).

A back pass by Klich was left well short of McVey centrally in his defensive half. Baribo intercepted with ease as McVey attempted to come over and cover. The space McVey was forced to abandon chasing the pass was then filled by Gazdag and Baribo squared the ball across to the Hungarian international. The Union #10 met the sphere cleanly with the in-step of his right foot, tucking it away low into the near corner. Bono tried to spread himself big but once again had no hope with an unmarked Gazdag just fifteen yards out.

After suffering through a three-match losing streak, the Union have now won three of four (the last two by a combined 9-1 score) and pulled themselves into 9th place at 36 points. That number leaves them tied with 8th-seed Toronto while holding a game in hand, however, the chase for a playoff spot does not get any easier over the final four games. The Union close their season with three teams in the top five of the Eastern Conference and their next matchday sees Atlanta United, a team who trails Philadelphia by three points, visit Subaru Park. That potential 6-point-swing match takes place at 7:30 pm EST from Chester, PA next Saturday. The match should be available to watch on Apple TV+.

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