Philadelphia Union saw its historic season conclude on Sunday evening, falling in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to New York City FC by a 1-0 scoreline.
Playing for the fourth time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the lone goal of the contest came from the visitors as Maxi Moralez timed his run inch perfect in the 25th minute to finish from a tight angle.
How The Match Went
Head Coach Bradley Carnell had his full roster to choose from, with the exception of Quinn Sullivan, who suffered an ACL tear in September. He started the match with Andre Blake in net, protected by a backline featuring two MLS Best XI defenders in left back Kai Wagner and centerback Jakob Glesnes, plus Nathan Harriel and Olwethu Makhanya.
Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, Danley Jean Jacques, and Milan Iloski made up the midfield, while Bruno Damiani and Tai Baribo were the attacking duo up top.
As for the opponent, Pascal Jansen was forced to make some changes to the group he sent out in his last visit to Subaru Park back on October 4th, as both Andres Perea and Alonso Martinez have since suffered season-ending injuries.
1', Energetic opening stretch | A packed stadium of Blue and Gold was the scene at the match's start as fans waved Union flags and colored smoke from the club's pregame show lingered. After more than a month's wait since the team's last home game, the crowd showed their support from first whistle, lifting a fitting Beast of the East tifo for the occasion.
10', NYC corner | Maxi Moralez took a corner from the right, and while his team found a second opportunity off of it, Bruno Damiani was quick to stifle their efforts clearing the ball up the field.
15', Close chance for NYC | Nicolás Fernández found the first shot of the night, but his close range left-footed effort hit the post.
21', Damiani attempt | A determined Bruno Damiani created a chance for himself at the top of the box, but his low opposite corner attempt was saved by former Union keeper turned USMNT regular Matt Freese.
27', NYC goal | A series of quick passes up the center of the field set up midfielder Maxi Moralez for a 1v1 with Andre Blake in front of the net. He placed a shot to the bottom right corner, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
35', Yellow Cards | In the span of three minutes, three yellow cards were shown between the two teams. Hannes Wolf, Tai Baribo, and Maxi Moralez were each given cautions.
37' Close corner for Philly | Harriel hustled to save a cross from Wagner from going out at the opposition touchline, instead hitting it off of NYC for a corner for the home team. Wagner sent it in from the right, findin Makhanya for a header that hit the ground before bouncing upward, where Freese ultimately grabbed it.
38', Blake save | Andre Blake made a big save in the 38th, stopped a right footed shot from the left half-space outside of the box from Agustín Ojeda.
45', Philly continues to fire | Down a goal and approaching halftime, Philadelphia Union pushed forward in the attack, with both Milan Iloski and Tai Baribo taking shots in the 39th and 42nd minute. A free kick won by Indiana Vassilev gave them another opportunity, but Bruno Damiani's header missed right. Glesnes tried to put one past his former teammate from the center of the box in the 45th, but Freese kept his team ahead with a save.
Hafltime | After five minutes of added time, both teams retreated to the locker room, with New York City holding the 1-0 lead.
51', Corner chance | Jovan Lukic took the first shot of the second half, sending the ball over the net after a corner from the right taken by Milan Iloski found its way to the defensive midfielder far outside the box.
55', Blake gives its all to keep it 1-0 | As Philly continued to push for an equalizer, they committed numbers into the attack and with it goalkeeper Andre Blake up near the center circle with the Union in a deep spell of possession. NYCFC's Nicolás Fernández had a go from the center stripe, whiping in a long, long range shot that looked like it would curl into the back of the net however Blake raced back and was able to punch it away. The Jamaican keeper came up slowly after the attempt, requiring medical treatment shortly after.
60', Union make a triple change | With a pair of planned changes at the hour mark, a third was thrust upon Head Coach Bradley Carnell as homegrown Andrew Rick entered for Blake. With the roar of the crowd as the keepers crossed the touch line, the Union also inserted in Frankie Westfield in place of Jovan Lukic and Mikael Uhre for Tai Baribo.
69', Another Union sub | After a rapid attack that saw Uhre rip a shot just over the New York net, Carnell made another change in the middle of the pitch sending in Jesus Bueno in place of Vassilev.
73', Philly chance | As the season ticked to a potential end, the Union were full attack mode with Makhanya once again taking possession and drving into the attack. After a quick combination of passes, Westfield hit a centering cross that both Danley and Damiani wouldn't be able to strike cleanly. The Boys kept on pushing with Iloski whipping in a cross that connected on a far post run by Westfield but the one touch finish was denied by Freese at the post.
79', Rick stop | New York City FC sough to put the match away with just over 10 minutes remaining as Moralez snuck into the box and blasted a right footed attempt that was saved by Rick.
80', Final Union change | Carnell turned to another attacking option with little time remaining sending in homegrown Cavan Sullivan in place on Danley with seven minutes left in regulation.
90+, Stoppage time | Six minutes were added to the Eastern Conference Final with the first 60 seconds almost seeing the game-tying goal from Iloski. Cutting inside to his right, the forward unleashed a blast that required a diving save from Freese at full extension.
