On Saturday night at Geodis Park in Nashville, the Union used a pair of second half goals to steal a 2-1 victory over Nashville SC on the road continuing the clubs unbeaten streak (2 wins/1 draw) in the last 3 trips to Music City USA. After seeing the Union down 1-0 after a Sam Surridge header that put Nashville up right before half, the club showed heart and character to get a 90th minute goal and keep the 3 game win streak alive. Head Coach Jim Curtin echoed this, saying postgame “I thought that the group showed a lot of character again, four out of six on the road and some pretty tough places to play and and we’ve set ourselves up in a good spot in the table.”
No Blake or Uhre in the lineup
As the lineups were announced, both Andre Blake (concussion) and Mikael Uhre (foot) were not on the roster, which put Oliver Semmle in net and Quinn Sullivan up top with Julian Carranza.
“Mikael trained on Thursday, he has plantar fasciitis in his foot. It bothered him too much to train again on Friday. So he didn’t make the trip,” mentioned Curtin. “Andre was was cleared to play train Friday. And as injuries often go, you know, Quinn [Sullivan] went in one on one with them, flicked the ball and hit Andre right in the head. And we were cautious with that and wanted to be smart and not push too hard on that. So erred on safety, which I think was the right decision. Dre wasn’t able to make the trip.”
With Andre not being able to make the trip, the Union called up U2 starting keeper Andrew Rick for his third time this year. Per league rules, Rick is only allowed 4 short-term loan call ups which then begs the question, if Andre continues to be out or misses time in the future, what does that mean for the goalkeepers on the first team roster?
“I understand why they’re in place. So then teams couldn’t just have you know, 40 man rosters, but in this instance, we’re not, we’re not manipulating things at all, we have a goalkeeper on a concussion. So can’t we just call up one of our own, and have it not be some penalty attached to it where we have to now weigh and measure? Do we call them up again, because then it triggers something and then this roster spot and someone else maybe has to get cut because of it. It’s just unfortunate, and it puts some people on some awkward situation.”
Along with those changes, the Union went with a three-back with Glesnes, Lowe, and Elliott. “Obviously we started the game in a back three, just trying to neutralize a team in Nashville that was maybe struggling to create chances this season. Overall, didn’t give up a lot.”
Slow Start to the First Half
Throughout the first half, Nashville kept pressing and attacking the Union while Philadelphia did little to create much of an attack during the first half. Curtin commented post-game, “I think when you look at the first half, it was kind of a nothing half, right? You know, there wasn’t a ton for us, we certainly didn’t create a lot. And if you get in at halftime with a zero, you say, you know, I think the formation and the plan worked well, when you make a mistake, and you can see the way we did and you start to have a little bit of doubt. So not a ton of creation in that formation in the first half, but at the same time, didn’t give up a lot.”
Nashville opened up the scoring in the 42nd minute off a Sam Surridge header from an assist from Jacob Shaffelburg. Curtin remarked, “The two things that we talked about were Shaffelburg on the dribble and his crosses and cutting them out and taking the last step. And then Surridge’s movement in the box, and we let ourselves down on that play.” While it is only 10 games into this season overall for the Union, they have conceded first now, in 7 out of 10 of those contests, which is something to keep an eye on as the season moves ahead.
A Strong Second Half
The second half started with the Union showing more urgency and putting pressure on Nashville and started creating opportunities. Curtin commented, “The second half, you know we we went back to the diamond… Certainly the roles are clear for our guys because we’ve been really good at it for the last six years. We know the spacing a little bit better so I would say you know both formations showed some good things. Certainly the diamond is still our number one and it proved well tonight, guys really stuck with things and I thought deserved the win. You know, it’s not easy to go on the road and create as many chances as we did in the second half there in come away with a big three points.”
The Union’s first goal came in the 62nd minute with a beautiful strike from Julian Carranza for his fourth goal in league play this season to level the score at 1. When asked about the Argentine, Curtin remarked, “I love Julian Carranza, not because he scores goals, but because again, he’s a great person. He’s he’s really a humble kid, gets along with everybody in the locker room. But he’s also a killer. And he’s nasty. And he’s mean on the field. And he’ll do anything to score a goal and to help the team win. So that’s a true striker’s goal tonight, when we need a big one, can you win, you know, get us a goal, that kind of turns the whole momentum of the game.”
And turn the momentum they did. Credit to two 59th minute substitutions that saw Ale Bedoya and Olivier Mbaizo come in for Kai Wagner (bruise) and Jack Elliott. Mbaizo on the night made the most of his opportunity. In 31 minutes, 14/15 passes completed, two chances created, two passes into the final third, and 3/4 duels won. Curtin praised Mbaizo by saying, “Olivier came in and was excellent- gave us some real good attacking down that right hand side, you know, roll a ball or two through, move towards legs. And it led to opening up some passes. And the first goal he was big on the pass that leads to the pass to make a play. So overall, really good. These guys are already whenever they’re called upon, and that is the definition of being a professional.”
The defining moment of the night was Jack McGlynn’s corner into the far post which was met with a wonderful header from Daniel Gazdag to put the Union up 2-1 in the 90th minute. Curtin said, “Dani worked his tail off defensively tonight. And you’re right, he is not the traditional number 10 who just plays you know, one side of the ball, stands in the middle and just looks to play through-balls. He does it through work, he does it through volume. And if he messes up eight times, he’s gonna come at you again the ninth time. He has an uncanny way. And I’ve never seen this with any player. I’ve worked with his movement in the box. And tonight’s another example.” The goal was also Gazdag’s fourth in league play as well, and capped off the Union’s 2-1 comeback win to secure their third win in a row and climb to third in the Supporter’s Shield Race behind Vancouver and Red Bulls.
“They have a ton of heart. They’re never out of the game. They’ll play to the final whistle. And again, you know, it’s been instilled in them. You know, from from minute one to minute 90, anything can happen and we stick with things. Do we play perfect, beautiful soccer all the time? No, but at the same time, I think we do everything for the badge for our fans for the Philadelphia Union badge for the city,” Curtin remarked.
Another interesting stat from this year, when down at the half in league competition, the Union are 1 win, 2 draws, and 0 losses on the early season. Not bad for a team that likes to play from in front.
The Last Unbeaten Team in MLS
With both LA Galaxy and FC Cincinnati losing yesterday, Philadelphia is now the only remaining undefeated in the league. I asked Jim how he and the players felt about it. “As far as the undefeated thing, that’s nice. You know, we’re going to try and push it as long as we can. I have given some incentive to the guys in this to game stretch here before we get a week, where we have a little bit of a bye again, players are motivated by very simple simple things. Before, it’s been pizza and beer for three consecutive shutouts with us. This time going into these last two road games, Nashville and Atlanta, I said, for each win, I’ll give you a day off, an additional day off.”
A tough contest looms indeed. Atlanta will be a lot for the Union to handle as they have never won in league competition on the road in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Last year, Atlanta shut out the Union 2-0 in a game which Union were just flat from the start of the game, so the Union will look to get their only second all time win there next Sunday.
Make sure to keep an eye out for a travel article for those heading to Atlanta next weekend and also a brand new pod this week recapping all the action. You can find it all on our website, theoneteamweagreeon.com.
Main article photo: Daniel Gazdag and Jack McGlynn celebrating Gazdag’s goal, courtesy of the Philadelphia Union.
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