CHESTER, Pa.—After three weeks of anticipation, Philadelphia Union returned home on Sunday to host NYCFC and looked to head to another MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final. However, this time as in 2021, NYCFC would play spoiler once again thanks to Maxi Moralez’s 27th minute goal as City would pick up their third consecutive road win of the MLS Playoffs, putting an end to Philadelphia’s season.
Both the Union and City faithful showed up in boisterous numbers, which created a wonderful atmosphere in and around the stadium prior to kick off.
Carnell elected to go with a tried and true line up that got them there in the first place. Andre Blake returned from his international duty with Jamaica, Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, and Nathan Harriel made up the back line. Danley Jean Jacques and Jovan Lukic were the defensive midfield pairing. The attacking duo of Indiana Vassliev and Milan Illoski rounded out the midfield, with Tai Baribo and Bruno Damiani getting the start in the forward spots.
The match started out as expected—very slow with both teams really figuring each other out through the opening moments of the match, which outside of a well-defended set piece play by Bruno Damiani, there was nothing through the first ten minutes of the match.
NYCFC Nicolás Fernández’s would get the first real chance of the match with a left footed shot from the left side of the box, which hit the post and was cleared out by Philadelphia.
Philadelphia started to grow into the match a little bit in the 20th minute or so, starting with Bruno Damiani being defended by two players and then was able to pivot around them and get a shot on NYCFC’s Matt Freese, who mishandled the first save, but was able to recover before Philadelphia was able to crash the net.
The Union started to create more chances, especially with Harriel down the right side of the pitch, however were unable to create anything worth a decent opportunity.
NYCFC would strike first, however, in the 27th minute by none other than veteran midfielder Maxi Morales, who scored his third goal in the playoffs in as many matches to open the scoring for the road side at 1-0.
Agustín Ojeda nearly extended City’s lead with a right-footed shot from the left half-space outside the box saved by Andre Blake who leapt up to save the shot and keep the match deficit at one.
The Union tried to create a few opportunities towards the end of the half, however, they were unable to connect on anything to find the back of net and draw the match level. Despite the Union having an 8-3 advantage in shots, New York was much more clinical in their opportunities and with their defense sitting back, which was also frustrating the home team.
The Union started the second half with a bit more energy than they did in the opening half, creating a few opportunities early in the half, however nothing came of them.
A huge moment came when NYCFC tried to chip Andre Blake, with Andrew Nicolás Fernández’s shot from his own half, getting the ball in behind Blake. The three-time Goalkeeper of the Year made an amazing save to keep the ball out of the back of the net. Unfortunately, Blake would remain down and was ultimately subbed out for Andrew Rick in the 60th minute. Carnell also elected to bring on Frankie Westfield and Mikael Uhre for Jovan Lukic and Tai Baribo in the same substitution window.
Rick was tested right away by NYCFC from a counter attack, however, the young keeper was able to make the save.
The Union would have their best their best chance of the match in the 75th minute as a cross from Iloski found the feet of Westfield, who put the ball on net, but Freese made a point blank save to keep it scoreless.
Andrew Rick once again made a great save on Moralez off a counter to keep the Union still in the match as they fought to find the equalizer.
With time running out, Westfield once again was presented with an opportunity to draw the match level, however, the homegrown defender could only manage to sky the ball over the net. Iloski then tested Freese with a rocket in stoppage time, however the former homegrown keeper made a great diving save to keep it out of the back of the net.
Philadelphia, desperately looking to keep their season alive, had other late opportunities as they pushed with all their might, however NYCFC’s defense rode out the match, thus ending Philadelphia’s memorable season and dashing once again their hope of claiming their first MLS Cup.
It was an emotional end to a season that saw the Union win the Supporters’ Shield and defy expectations of so many. Now that it is the off season, many questions remain. Who will remain with the squad, and who will be moving on? Probably one of the biggest question marks is Mikael Uhre. The Danish striker was seen looking around the stadium after the match, as if it could be his last time on that pitch.
When asked about it after the match, he said, “Oh, definitely emotional. I mean, how often do you get a chance to go through this on home field? Obviously, I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I’m out of my contract, so we’ll see what happens. But, yeah, it was definitely emotional.”
With being out of contract, is Uhre open to coming back to the squad? “Let’s just say I’m keeping my options open,” he said in response to that question. “I’m not saying I would would never come back. I love it here. I love the people here. I love my teammates. So I would definitely not say no. But yeah, that’s not only up to me.”
It was a match where the rust was definitely evident with the Union, and by the time they seemed to find some semblance of rhythm, it was a little too late.
“It was a tough start to the game, and we didn’t really really come out the way we wanted, and then they score, and then it’s an uphill battle from there,” Uhre remarked. “They defend very well. So, yeah. Obviously, have our chances, and we need to score. Freese makes a miraculous save on Milan’s attempt, and sometimes you’ve got to applaud the opponent because that’s a world class save. But yeah, it obviously stinks right now.”
Uhre summed it up the feelings of the players and probably a lot of the fan base by saying, “I think we had a hell of a year and luckily, and I think in in a few weeks time, maybe, [we’re] gonna be really happy about what we did and that we won a Supporters’ Shield, but right now, yeah, that’s not really in your mind.”
Jillian Almoney contributed to this article.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
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