Philadelphia Union will learn their opponent for the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final on Sunday afternoon as CF Montreal host New York City FC. Kick off from Canada is set for 1 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
The Boys in Blue claimed the first spot into the Conference Finals with gritty 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Thursday night. Leon Flach scored his first goal of 2022 with a left-footed finish in the 59th minute which proved to be enough as Andre Blake put on an MVP performance with five saves to record his second career postseason shutout. With the victory, the Union know they will host the Eastern Conference Final for the second-straight season with the contest to be held at Subaru Park on Sunday, October 30th. Tickets for the match are going fast so click the image below to secure your spot now!
Philadelphia Union were unbeaten against both squads in the regular season, taking all three points in all but one of the matches against the two potential opponents.
CF Montreal finished second in the Eastern Conference in 2022, picking up 65 points with a 20-9-5 record in the regular season. The Canadian side opened its postseason run with a 2-0 home shutout against Orlando City SC with a 68th minute goal from Ismael Kone opening the scoring which was followed up by a Djordje Mihailovic PK finish in second half stoppage time.
The Union and Montreal squared off early in the regular season with the Boys in Blue claiming their first victory of the season in a 2-1 road win in Canada. Lassi Lappalainen opened the scoring early but the Union fought back with goals from Alejandro Bedoya and Julian Carranza just three minutes apart to bolster the Union offense. Six weeks later the two battled at Subaru Park with Montreal's Kei Kamara cancelling out a Carranza PK to see out a 1-1 draw in April.
New York City FC earned the No. 3 seed in East with 55 points after finishing the regular season with a 16-11-7 record. After a hot start to the season, the defending MLS Cup Champions had had some growing pains via the departures of Head Coach Ronny Deila and leading-scorer Taty Castellanos which saw them win just three games in the final 11 regular season contests. In their postseason opener, they dispatched No. 6 seed Inter Miami CF, 3-0, behind second-half goals from Gabriel Pereira, Maxi Moralez and Heber.
The Union were 2-0 in the regular season for the first time in club history against the Cityzens, as they renewed their rivalry with a resounding 2-0 win at Yankee Stadium in March behind goals from Alejandro Bedoya and Daniel Gazdag. Three months later the matchup took place at Subaru Park where the Union were on the right side of the 2-1 scoreline in an instant thriller. Mikael Uhre bagged an early goal in the 9th minute before a penalty kick was awarded to NYCFC which Castellanos finished off in the 89th minute. Like the City of Brotherly Love, the Union didn't quite and bagged the match winner as Jose Martinez blasted a shot from outside the box that crashed off Cory Burke and into the back of the net.
