Following a gutsy 4-2 win in Cincinnati, the Philadelphia Union defeated Mazatlán in a thrilling Leagues Cup Quarterfinal match to advance to the Semifinals. The game was likely the last for José Martínez as a transfer to Corinthians is imminent, so the beloved midfielder was honored at Subaru Park with a proper send-off. I give my thoughts on Saturday’s match and what El Brujo meant to the team.
It was quite the week if you follow the Philadelphia Union. On Tuesday, they defeated FC Cincinnati 4-2 in a tough road game behind a Tai Baribo brace, goals from Mikael Uhre and Quinn Sullivan, and excellent goalkeeping from Andre Blake. On Wednesday, a town hall was held at Union Yards where questions about player investment and other topics were covered with the team’s leaders. On Saturday, the Union defeated Mazatlán in penalty kicks after being down a man for over half the match and will face Columbus Crew on the road for the Leagues Cup Semifinals. But back to Tuesday night, another player who had had a strong performance became the subject of rumors on social media almost immediately after the game ended. According to various accounts on X, Brazilian side Corinthians were in talks for acquiring José Martínez for a reported $2 million transfer.
With the town hall happening the day after the rumors surfaced, naturally the subject of José Martínez came up. Coach Jim Curtin described what he meant to the team and memories he had, as well as Julián Carranza. He also said that José was “still here” but one could certainly deduce that he probably would not be for long.
On Friday during the pre-match presser with Jim Curtin and Leon Flach, Jim was asked if José would be playing in the match on Saturday, and Jim said he would not be. Fast forward to Saturday, and the starting 11 was released with José Martínez on the bench. The expectation seemed to be he would get recognized and get a well-deserved send-off, but not come in unless something crazy happened.
José Martínez strikes the drum and salutes the crowd, and the starting XI for the Union. Photo credit: Philadelphia Union
Well, crazy happened. It had been a bit chippy between Tai Baribo, the Union’s hottest goal scorer at the moment, and Mazatlán’s Roberto Meraz as the teams lined up for corner kicks. Meraz could be seen egging on Baribo and grabbing at him. During a corner in the 40′, Baribo was shown a yellow card for an apparent foul on Meraz, who flopped to the ground. On replay, it appeared to be really soft, and commentators and analysts from Apple TV, not to mention the Union players and the fans, deemed it an egregious error. Moments later, Meraz was shown to have fallen to the grown again after Baribo had made contact with him. The referee at first showed a straight red, but went to VAR and it was downgraded to a yellow, though this did not help Baribo as it was a second yellow and became a red anyway, sending off the Israeli striker in first half stoppage time amid a sea of boos at the referee from the crowd. For the third straight game, Mazatlán was going to have a man advantage and for more than half the game. As the kids say, a little “sus” in my opinion. Jim Curtin had even mentioned in his presser that Mazatlán players would be looking to draw fouls. Tai, of course, could have been a bit more careful after the first yellow, but Meraz could also have been carded for simulation on the first foul in my opinion.
The Union responded, however, moments later as Mikael Uhre took a great pass from Jack McGlynn and went on a run that saw him chip the ball over the keeper on possibly one of his best ever goals in a Union jersey. The team and the crowd were reinvigorated, and the Union went into the locker room at halftime with a 1-0 lead.
While Mazatlán would go on to score the equalizer in the 59′ after a dangerous free kick, the Union made some substitutions to help shore up the defense and Andre Blake made an incredible save in the 86′ that preserved the tie.
In the 90′, the crowd realized that José Martínez was running over to the 4th official and that indeed, “El Brujo” would be going in for most likely his last appearance. He was embraced by Jim Curtin and then ran onto the field as the fans showed their appreciation for the man and the moment. Regulation would end with the game still tied, so penalty kicks loomed.
José Martínez takes the field for the Union. Photo credit: Philadelphia Union
Mazatlán would kick first, and Andre Blake read it right and made the save as Subaru Park exploded in excitement. Then, who else to take the first shot for the Union but José Martínez? In what was probably his last kick for the Union, El Brujo blasted the ball into the back of the net to put the Union up 1-0 in PKs.
Andre Blake and José Martínez embrace after José made his PK. Photo credit: Philadelphia Union
Mazatlán made their second attempt, Jack Elliott made his for the Union, and then Andre Blake had another spectacular save to deny the visitor’s third attempt. Damion Lowe made his shot to put the Union up 3-1. Mazatlán made their fourth attempt, but Sam Adeniran hit the post and could not end it then in the Union’s favor. After Mazatlán made their fifth shot, it was up to Jesús Bueno, a PK shootout hero from the 2023 Leagues Cup, to win it for the Union. He delivered, and the Union ended Mazatlán’s run in Leagues Cup with the victory in PKs.
Photo credit: Philadelphia Union
As is tradition, “man of the match” got to strike the drum as the crowd celebrated the win, however two Venezuelan players would share the honor that night. Jesús Bueno and José Martínez took turns banging the drum, and the emotions in the stadium were palpable.
The Union survived and advanced, and José Martínez was able to have a fitting send-off from the city that has embraced him, and that he embraced and embodied since he arrived in 2020. He was interviewed after the match, and gave a heartfelt and emotional message.
What El Brujo meant to Philly
It is often said that it is tough to play in Philadelphia. It is also said, though, that if you give your all day in and day out for the team, the fans respect that and the fans will be behind you. It’s the players who complain or have poor effort that get the boos. Philly appreciates grit, fight, and hard work. I think if more Philadelphia sports fans paid attention to Major League Soccer and the Union, they would adore José Martínez the way they do with players like Chase Utley or Wayne Simmonds. They fit that mentality, weren’t afraid to play a little rough, and gave their all day in and day out. José was a perfect fit for Philly, and he loved playing in the city and spoke about how he would like to retire in Philly (though he also said he would still like other opportunities). Jim Curtin even said that José was like Rocky in his debut against LAFC in 2020 with the bloody nose- a legendary moment that would live on in Union fans’ minds thereafter. He also infamously got into a confrontation with Gonzalo Higuain after the Miami striker missed a penalty kick.
José was known for accumulating many yellow cards, being a bit of a hot head, and perhaps playing a little dirty at times. But he also was the life of the party known for his dancing and fun-loving personality. Any time I interacted with him, whether at a fan event or with the media, he was always kind and considerate. He may speak little English (it seems to have been improving though), but the person he is transcended language with the fans with how he played and how he acted.
As the fan-favorite midfielder’s departure is imminent, social media has been full of tributes and memories. One moment that probably tops many Union fans’ lists of favorite José moments is the goal-of-the-year contender he blasted in the 90′ minute at Orlando in 2023. He also had two other spectacular goals in 2023 against Cincinnati and NYCFC.
Or who can forget José interrupting Jim Curtin’s press conference in 2022 after the Union won the Eastern Conference Final versus NYCFC, telling him to come party? And yes, against NYCFC earlier in the season, the infamous image of the double bird salute being given to the opposing team’s fans as he walked off the field after the victory. As Jim Curtin said in a heartfelt response to Kyle Almoney’s question about what José meant to the team in his presser following the win over Mazatlán, he is irreplaceable. Jim summed it up, saying, “Great player, great person, he’ll be missed. One last hurrah, one last dance, and I have love for José.”
Looking ahead
The Union travel to Columbus to take on the Crew on Wednesday, August 21st at 7:30 PM in the Leagues Cup Semifinals. The winner will face either LAFC or the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, August 25th, with the losers of the Semifinals facing off in the third place match, also on Sunday. Not only is a trophy on the line, but also Concacaf Champions Cup berths. Should the Union finish in the top three, they would once again have a CCC berth next season. Columbus will be a tough opponent who is rarely beaten at home, and the reigning MLS Cup champion. Additionally, the Union will be without red-hot striker Tai Baribo, as Jim Curtin said it would be fruitless to appeal the suspension. This team has proven, however, that they have fight in them. They are very close, once again, to winning a trophy, and to see players like Alejandro Bedoya and Andre Blake, who have been with the club though good years and not so good, hoist a trophy would be so important to the team and the fan base. Either way, a game will be played in Chester on Sunday, but which it will be remains to be seen.
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