Union drop valuable points, lose 2-1 to Orlando City SC

Jim Curtin‘s Philadelphia Union have not missed the playoffs since 2017 and they have been battling all season to maintain that MLS playoff streak. Unfortunately, they left themselves the toughest three-game stretch in MLS to close out the regular season and their next battleground was Orlando, Florida Wednesday night. The last time these two teams met was May 11, a 3-2 Orlando win at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Obviously a lot has changed in almost five months. The one thing that did not change was the result.

Philadelphia came into this fixture unbeaten in three, and holding a playoff spot in 9th place, while Oscar Pareja‘s squad were 4-0-1in their last five overall, unbeaten in their last six at home, and currently in position to host a first-round playoff game.

Orlando made no changes to their lineup from their 3-1 win at Dallas over the weekend while Philadelphia made three ahead of this contest. Danley Jean Jacques replaced Leon Flach at the base of the diamond and the right side got a makeover with Alejandro Bedoya starting for Quinn Sullivan in midfield and Olivier Mbaizo returning to the back line in front of Andre Blake.

Speaking of Andre Blake, on the year Blake has five clean sheets in ten starts and possesses a 0.70/GAA. Other Philadelphia goalies possessed a 1.95/GAA on the season.

Blake was somehow not tested in a scoreless first half but that was much more of a credit to the haphazard shooting of Orlando City SC as they dominated play for all the first fifteen minutes and the majority of the first half. Philadelphia had a bit of a threat around the 20 minute mark when they won themselves a couple set pieces though they failed to make anything of them.

The home side, on the other hand, had numerous balls whipped across the face of the goal without a finishing touch, shots blocked in the box by desperate defending, and put more than enough wide-open shots over the goal for Philly to thank their lucky stars. The first half featured plenty of fireworks but no goals. That was soon to change.

Philadelphia played with more than enough fire before they finally got burned and it was halftime substitute Luis Muriel who was able to set up Facundo Torres for the opening goal in the 57th minute.

Orlando built their counter-attack at a relatively leisurely pace with Martin Ojeda carrying down the right wing into the attacking half. He played centrally to Muriel who worked a quick give-and-go with Ramiro Enrique at the top of the box. The initial pass to the feet of Enrique caused the defense to collapse on him, allowing Muriel to play the return feed out wide to Torres immediately. Torres stepped into it and hit it the first time, beating Blake short-side under his right hand. With that goal, Torres claimed the all-time goal-scoring lead for Orlando, and the team finally had what seemed inevitable all first half, a goal.

With a 1-0 lead, Oscar Pareja called on more firepower, bringing on Duncan McGuire for Ojeda in the 61st minute, and that move would help double the lead for the hosts.

Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese slung the ball out to his left. It was worked towards Muriel, who flicked it on to a teammate and turned to run by Jakub Glesnes. Nathan Harriel, who had just come onto the pitch eight seconds before, stepped up to challenge but ended up taking himself out of position when he did not win the ball. That allowed Muriel to go past both and get the space to banana-kick (using the outside of one’s cleat to bend a passed ball) his pass right into McGuire’s run between Kai Wagner and Jack Elliott. McGuire took two touches and, from the top of the box, slotted the ball into the right corner past Blake at full stretch. It was McGuire’s 3rd goal in the last five games.

Philadelphia had some firepower start on their bench as well, 63rd minute substitute Quinn Sullivan pulling the Union within one in the 72nd minute.

A Philadelphia throw-in on the left touchline went into Gazdag, who worked a give-go-give with Wagner before the Hungarian international chipped into Mikael Uhre with his back to goal. Uhre was able to hold the ball up just long enough before flicking on to Gazdag to take possession at the goal line. Gazdag cut the ball back through the box (somehow past three defenders) right to the center of the six and Sullivan stepped into it just before Rafael Santos got over. Sullivan’s right-foot shot hammered the underside of the crossbar and came straight down over the line, Gallese’s left hand going up a moment too late.

The chance for a point literally hung in the air for Philadelphia in the second minute of stoppage time (90+2) when they won a corner to the right of Gallese. Jesus Bueno’s right foot was chosen to do the honors and he delivered a sublime ball right to the center of goal. Harriel went up by himself, four yards out from goal, and caught the header cleanly but pushed it wide of the post to Gallese’s right. That was his 3rd header attempt since coming on and the best opportunity to level his side.

This loss is a massive blow to the Union’s playoff hopes and they now must have three points when they travel to Columbus, Ohio Saturday. Gametime versus the Crew is 7:30 pm EST and available on Apple TV+.

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