The Philadelphia Union got back to their MLS regular season schedule with a match on the road against DC United. A team they have dominated in their previous two matchups, the Union have outscored DC United 14-0 going into tonight’s match. Wayne Rooney’s side has been struggling of late, finding themselves holding the 10th position in a strong Eastern Conference. The Union, looking to keep the momentum from their previous match going, sit in 3rd, coming into Audi Field for this matchup. The Union continued its domination of DC United.
From the Jump
It was all Union in the first half. Julian Carranza forced a turnover deep in DC’s defensive half in the fifth minute. Off the turnover, Carranza would find Mikael Uhre in stride to get the Union on the board. Eight minutes later, some solid passing would see Jack McGlynn with the ball at his foot. He put the Union up 2-0 only 13 minutes into the match. A good run by Carranza forced a foul in the penalty area against DC. It gave Philadelphia a chance to extend their lead to three. Daniel Gazdag would convert from the spot to tie as the Union’s 2nd all-time leading goal scorer. His 36 goals trail only club legend Sebastien Le Toux’s 50 in MLS competition. The first half came to a close after a solid save by Andre Blake, keeping the Union up 3-0.
DC United saw a crack in the Union’s defense early in the second half. With Jose Martinez leaving the match early with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, DC United found their way in on the Union defense. Christian Benteke would find a jump ball for a well-placed header. Union goalkeeper Andre Blake would make a dazzling save on the line, along with several Union defenders stopping follow-up attempts from DC. With the lead still holding at three, Philadelphia would clamp down defensively. They would push the issue offensively to keep DC on their heels the rest of the way. A screamer for a shot from DC sub Theodore Ku-Dipietro in the 88th minute would be too little too late, as Philadelphia would get three points by way of a 3-1 final.
Now, Back to the Regular Season
Coming back into regular season play, Philadelphia is in a prime position to make a push for the Supporter’s Shield as the best team in the league. This match was exactly what the Union needed to keep their form as they now head into the final ten matches of the season. The final stretch is here, and Philadelphia Union is again in the mix.
Austin is the host of The Attacking Third (Tuesday nights at 9 pm). His passion for soccer started in the early 2000s because of his brother and father’s influence. He is a dedicated fan of all Philly sports and also is a fan of gaming.
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