Surviving Chaos: Union Make Through 2nd Half vs. Fire as Shootout Nerves Win the Night
(Carl Gulbish/Philadelphia Soccer Now)
Perfect chaos. An uncharacteristic lapse in defensive intensity, chippy play, and yet, the Union won anyway.
Game 1 of Round 1 of the MLS Playoffs was a tale of two halves. A tense nil standoff in the first half, chances in the second half, the Union with 2 fast goals off of midfield pressure. Then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, Philadelphia went from cruising to clenching teeth in minutes. Up 2-0 after Indiana Vassilev at 70′ and Milan Iloski at 75′.
After this, the Union eased off the throttle and Chicago smelled it, and Jonathan Bamba cut it to 2-1 in the 84th. Jack Elliott, back in Chester in Fire colors, smashed the equalizer at 90+3′. Subaru Park flipped from party to panic.
What happened in that lapse was simple: line height dropped, pressure windows opened, allowing Chicago’s fullbacks to easily move in higher. Philly’s midfield stopped jumping second balls like it had all night, and you saw the Fire play faster into the half spaces. While this was going on, Philly tried to manage the clock instead of the Fire attack. That’s how momentum flipped in this game, and it should be a warning of how fast it can flip in a series.
Then came the chippy play. A couple of minutes after Elliott’s evening goal, Kai Wagner and Brian Gutierrez tangled, Sergio Oregel Jr. lost his head and sent Wagner to the turf. Red card, and his night was over. The match changed from soccer to self-control, with Philly choosing the latter; Chicago didn’t.
The penalty kicks demanded calm, and the Union delivered. Chris Brady saved the first kick, then Andre Blake and Philly shut the door. Hugo Cuypers scored. Joel Waterman didn’t. Jesus Bueno settled it. 4-2 in the shootout. All of it on a night when the two-goal cushion vanished in seconds.
The slip wasn’t who they are, but it also wasn’t random. The Union’s press has been their backbone all season, and it sagged right after the second goal. That sequence will dominate the film room this week, and for good reason. What followed showed why they’re built for these nights. When the Fire tried to drag the match into the mud, Philly stayed composed. At the center of it all, Andre Blake set the tone. He stayed calm as he ever has and simply steadied the night and won the moments that mattered most.
After the game, shoot-out hero Jesus “Chuchu” Bueno said best in his post-game interview when asked how important this game was to the team.
“The truth is, that I think it’s very important for the team’s confidence,” Bueno said. “We made the game a little difficult at the end of the match, but what’s important is the win and we did what coach asked.”
Chuchu came in at 83′ in the contest, and he ended up being one of the heroes of the night. He added that they made the game complicated for themselves in the end, and that if they don’t want to have a third game in this round, this will have to be addressed.
So what do I take away from Game 1?
• When the Union stops pressing, they invite chaos. When they pressed, they suffocated the Fire all night.
• Set pieces and second balls are Chicago’s lifeline. Kill the chances early and keep them from heating up.
• If it gets chippy, follow the lead of your veterans. They will restore the match to your terms and dictate your pace.
Game 2 in Chicago will bring the same provocation with their backs against the wall. You’ll definitely see the Fire try to turn every whistle into a scene. You’ll see Cuypers and Bamba bait contact around the box. The counter is simple: keep the line high, hunt for the first pass out, and when all else fails — trust your keeper late.
You saw a lapse, but you also saw grit and composure. Philly blinked once. Then they remembered who they are when it mattered.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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