Philadelphia Union’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup campaign is set to resume on Tuesday with a Semifinal showdown against Nashville SC at Geodis Park. With a win, the team would book their ticket to the tournament’s final for the fourth time in club history – tune in on CBS Sports to watch the knockout action!
The upcoming match marks the third meeting between Philadelphia and Nashville this season, but on this occasion, the stakes are raised as the victor will advance to the Open Cup Final, competing against either Austin FC or Minnesota United for the chance to hoist a trophy in the country's oldest ongoing soccer tournament.
So far in 2025, Nashville has gotten the best of Philly twice, first handing the Boys in Blue their first loss of the season at Subaru Park back in March with a 3-1 win by way of goals from Sam Surridge, Ahmed Qasem, and Hany Mukhtar. The Boys in Blue found the same fate on Fourth of July weekend, leaving Tennessee empty handed after a 1-0 loss in stoppage time. Since then, however, Nashville hasn't fared quite as well, picking up six additional losses of their own, while Philly have only dropped two in that same span. With 50 points, Nashville sit at fifth in the East and seventh in the Supporters' shield standings with 30 games played.
"They are a team that has a ton of quality. Some exceptional playmakers with Surridge and Mukhtar, but then there's a lot of supporting star players as well, and we have to contain them,” Carnell said.
“This is a once-off game now, and this is something we have to be up for the challenge and really excited about. Our team has been amazing throughout the whole season, getting to this point now, and there's one more game to a final, and that's the full focus right now.”
The Boys in Blue enter Tuesday’s contest following a disappointing regular season result against Vancouver Whitecaps, but the group quickly shifted their focus toward Open Cup, recovering with a Sunday night session at Nashville’s training facility after a long day of travel across the continent from British Columbia to Tennessee.
“The team is full of energy. I think that's the beauty of having a young group that's excited and energized about where they're going this season and what they've done so, yeah, I think there's an exciting game tomorrow,” Carnell said.
The team held a final matchday -1 session at the facility on Monday afternoon, and before heading back to the hotel, Homegrown defender Nathan Harriel echoed Carnell's sentiments, sharing what Tuesday's Semifinal means to he and his teammates.
"One game won’t define who this team is. It’s been a really strong and successful season so far, and now we have big Open Cup game against Nashville. It’s a chance to compete for a trophy, and that’s one goal this club has this year — to lift a trophy," Harriel said.
As for availability, the only player Carnell mentioned would be a gameday decision is three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake, who didn’t dress for Saturday’s regular season match against Vancouver. The rest of the group, including centerback Olwethu Makhanya, who's ineligible for regular season play due to card disciplines, is expected to be available for selection.
It all goes down on Saturday at 7:30pm – tune in with CBS Sports or Paramount Plus to watch the next chapter in Philly's pursuit for a spot in the US Open Cup Final!
