Chester – For the first time since 2018, the Philadelphia Union kicked off a home U.S. Open Cup match at Subaru Park on Wednesday evening as they hosted USL Championship side Indy Eleven. Over the 120 minutes plus stoppage time and a penalty kick shootout, the Union advanced on the night. While some might say that creating 33 shots should get you the result, it was one of those nights where Philadelphia had to grind it out and have a little luck on their side as well.

Speaking post-match, Philadelphia Head Coach Bradley Carnell had this to say about the match:

“Thanks to Indy Eleven and Steve for giving us a very entertaining game. I thought we started the game really well. Obviously, take the first goal and then allow them in the game in the second half. And there’s no easy games in professional soccer. We’ve seen that far too many times, even this week alone, with all the crazy results around the league. So yeah, credit to the boys that they dug in a little deeper than we needed to. I stopped counting at 30 shots, I believe. So, yeah, we got there in the end. And I thought, you know, the guys create a lot of energy momentum throughout the end of the game there.”

Heading into the match, Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell had previously mentioned squad rotation, and with a busy schedule coming up, there was some expected shuffling. Andrew Rick started in net for Andre Blake. Carnell did mention that Blake was dealing with some minor injury but could be ready for this weekend.

The back line featured some changes with Olivier Mbaizo starting at right back and David Vazquez making his first-team debut at left back. The center backs—Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya—were the only non-rotated starters from Saturday. Up front, forwards Mikael Uhre and Bruno Damiani started as expected.

In the midfield, the most significant rotation occurred. Alejandro Bedoya returned as captain and started alongside Cavan Sullivan, who made his debut in the starting eleven—perhaps overshadowing the captain’s return in some fans’ eyes. Jesus Bueno and Jeremy Rafanello rounded out the midfield for Carnell’s side.

On Sullivan’s performance, Carnell had this to add:

“Cavan wants to play, you know, he wants to express himself, he wants to get on the pitch. He wants to prove himself, and he wants to prove he belongs with the team. So, you know, he did a great job. He’s young, fit, hungry, so it was fun to watch him tonight, going against men.”

As kickoff began in Chester, both teams spent the early minutes feeling each other out. Indy Eleven aimed to neutralize the Union’s attack with a low block and counter with long balls over the top.

That changed in the 6th minute when the Union created their first dangerous chance of the match. A cross into the box found the head of Alejandro Bedoya, who scored his first goal of the year by beating Indy Eleven goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook to put the Union up 1-0 early.

In the 20th minute, the Union nearly added another goal as Jakob Glesnes headed the ball into the box and Damiani redirected a deflection on target, but Charles-Cook knocked it over the bar to maintain the one-goal deficit. Moments later, Sullivan had a shot on goal, but it was saved—and he was offside to begin with. Still, the Union kept pressing as the first half developed.

Indy Eleven had their first real chance in the 30th minute when James Murphy dribbled into open space and fired a shot at Andrew Rick, who dove to his right, though the shot went wide.

Sullivan kept the pressure on, creating dangerous chances in the 38th and 39th minutes, but Charles-Cook continued to keep the Union at bay. Overall, Sullivan was solid in the first half, creating multiple chances for Carnell’s side.

“As the more crazy the game got, we wanted to get to know overloads on the side, in the wide areas, with Cavan and Kai, and then with Ale. And then we needed Jovan to overlap as well when Mbaizo couldn’t go. So, yeah, just trying to create those crossing moments. We know we’re very good at crosses, and I think we created so many real good chances, and unfortunately, we didn’t get them over the line. But I was happy with the chance creation when we got that overload.”

As the second half kicked off, the only halftime substitution was Jakob Glesnes coming off for Nathan Harriel. Indy went right on the attack as expected, creating two chances in the first two minutes. Elvis Amoh connected with a cross into the box to level the score at 1-1 early in the second half, and Indy kept pressing for several minutes after.

The next wave of substitutions for Philadelphia saw Tai Baribo come in for Damiani, Kai Wagner replace Vazquez, and Jovan Lukic sub in for Bueno.

Andrew Rick did his best to keep the Union in the match over the next 15 minutes, helping his squad withstand Indy’s growing momentum.

For a moment, the Union thought they had the go-ahead goal when Uhre’s shot hit the crossbar and fell to Tai Baribo, who finished it—only for the play to be ruled offside.

In the 80th minute, Olivier Mbaizo was subbed off for Indiana Vassilev after taking a knock. In the 91st minute, Frankie Westfield came on for Mikael Uhre, who appeared to be favoring his leg. Carnell noted that players were picking up knocks throughout the night:

“Yeah, we just have to dig deep, you know, I think he was cramping. Makhanya was cramping. So, yeah, it’s a big shift against the motivated team. So, and that’s the thing, you know, we try and prepare the guys in a certain way, but until the whistle blows, then you’re in a game of professional soccer, and you don’t come up against these guys every single week. And you have to adapt. You have to grow into the game and respect them for who they are as well.”

Something to monitor ahead of this weekend’s match against Columbus.

With six minutes of stoppage time added, both teams pressed hard to find a winner. While Indy Eleven were clearly the better side in the second half, the Union still created chances—just couldn’t finish them.

The full-time whistle meant extra time: two 15-minute halves before a potential penalty shootout.

Philadelphia started the first 15-minute frame of extra time aggressively, creating a major opportunity, but Charles-Cook once again made a crucial stop.

As the second 15-minute period began, it seemed inevitable that the match was destined for penalties, given how well Charles-Cook was playing and the Union’s inability to convert.

On the night, Charles-Cook made 10 saves on 11 shots and was instrumental in getting Indy Eleven to penalties.

Williams stepped up first for Indy and buried his attempt, just beating Rick’s outstretched hand. Indiana Vassilev was first up for the Union and scored in the exact same spot as Williams.

Indy’s next shooter blasted his shot past Rick. Tai Baribo followed and finished his chance to keep it level at 2-2. On Indy’s third attempt, Rick came up with a big save. Frankie Westfield scored next for Philadelphia to make it 3-2.

Indy’s fourth shooter fooled Rick, sending him diving right while the shot went left. Jeremy Rafanello scored his chance to put the Union up 4-3. Indy’s fifth shooter fired a bullet past Rick, setting up Jovan Lukic with the match on the line. Lukic’s shot glanced off Charles-Cook’s hand and bounced off the post and in, sending the Union through 5-4 on penalties to the Round of 16, where they will face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

“So I do think we created enough. And credit to them. They were just looking for one moment. And, you know, they nearly get it at the end of extra time there, I think, at the back post. And Rick comes up big. And then we knew he’s going to get one. He always seems to do it at MLS Next Pro level. And that’s what we said to the boys in the penalty huddle. We said, Rick’s going to give us one. We have to take care of our business.”

The Union are back home on Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. as they host the Columbus Crew. It remains to be seen if the Union’s all-time leading scorer, Daniel Gazdag, will be available—he missed last Saturday’s match due to injury. The match will be available on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.

Main Article Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Union