Philadelphia Union defeated Indy Eleven in a shootout in their first U.S. Open Cup match since 2023, advancing to the Round of 16.
The Boys in Blue were dominant at the start, securing an early lead with a determined finish from team captain Alejandro Bedoya in the 6th minute. The visitors found an equalizer shortly into the second half, and after neither team added another through the 90th minute, the match was forced into extra time. The two teams battled through two scoreless 15 minute halves, leaving a shootout to decide the result. Homegrown Andrew Rick's heroics secured the win, sending the Union to the tournament's next round.
Next up, the Boys in Blue will resume league play, hosting first place Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Subaru Park. Click here for tickets!
How The Match Unfolded
With their strenous schedule in mind, Carnell rotated his starting lineup again, adding two first-time starters in young Homegrowns Cavan Sullivan and David Vazquez to the mix.
Andre Blake was left off the matchday roster, so for the third time this season, 19-year-old Homegrown keeper Andrew Rick made the start between the posts. The backline protecting him featured Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya paired at centerback, while Olivier Mbaizo and Vazquez manned the outside back spots. In the midfield, the younger Sullivan brother started alongside Jesus Bueno, Alejandro Bedoya, and Jeremy Rafanello, who played for the opponent back in 2020. As for the the attacking duo, Damiani and Mikael Uhre were Carnell's chosing pairing, while Baribo started on the bench.
Alongside Baribo on the sidelines to start the match, Oliver Semmle was the backup keeper, sitting with Nate Harriel, Kai Wagner, Frankie Westfield, Jovan Lukic, and Indiana Vassilev.
6', Bedoya makes it 1-0 | In his first start of 2025, 38-year-old team captain Alejandro Bedoya put the Boys in Blue on the board, finishing a service from Olivier Mbaizo with a leaping touch into the back of the net passed Indy Eleven keeper Reice Charles-Cook.
45+, Big stop by Rick | In the final moments of the first half, Indy Eleven midfielder Jack Blake took a near-perfect one touch shot from the right side of the box, nearly leveling the score for the visitors. Favorably for the Union, Rick was able to get a hand on it, diverting the ball for a crossbar bounce before Mbaizo booted it out of play.
Halftime, 1-0 | Despite multiple promising attempts from Cavan Sullivan, the score remained 1-0 through the halftime whistle. Upon emerging from the locker room, Carnell made his first changes of the match, replacing Jakob Glesnes with Nathan Harriel.
48', Indy Eleven levels the score | Two minutes into the second half, Indy Eleven's Maalique Foster found Elvis Amoh for the equalizer.
58', Union reinforcements | In the 58th minute, Carnell made three changes, sending on Jovan Lukic, Kai Wagner, and Tai Baribo in place of Jesus Bueno, David Vazquez, and Bruno Damiani.
81', Another Union sub | Carnell made another change in the 81st minute, replacing Olivier Mbaizo with Indiana Vassilev.
End of regulation, 1-1 score | The score stayed locked at 1-1 through the end of regular time, sending the match to 30 minutes of extra time.
Extra time sub | To start the first of two 15 minute halves, Carnell made another change, taking out Mikael Uhre, a striker, for Frankie Westfield, an outside back.
Shootout victory! | Neither team found a winner during extra time, forcing the match to a shootout. Andrew Rick made a massive save and his teammates scored all five, securing the victory.
