With just a few games left in the 2024 season and an MLS Cup Playoff spot still up for grabs, another big road performance was needed from the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night in order to increase their chances of finishing above the Playoff line come Decision Day.
A late goal and a flurry of chances to level the game in the final moments almost erased a lack-luster performance from Jim Curtin’s side, but Orlando City ultimately were the better team on the night and it was the substitutes off Óscar Pareja’s bench that made the difference in a 2-1 defeat for the Union.
Starting XI
Jim Curtin threw a few fresh bodies into his starting XI with the trip to Orlando being Union’s 3rd game in a week, and the 4th coming on Saturday in Columbus – but some fans weren’t too happy with who got rested.
Danley Jean-Jacques returned to the starting lineup after working his way back to fitness from injury, which was expected by most. Ale Bedoya came into the midfield on the right side of the diamond, leaving red-hot Quinn Sullivan on the bench to start the game, alongside Nate Harriel who was replaced by Olivier Mbaizo – another decision some fans found interesting.
Curtin after the game mentioned that Ale’s ability to speak French and communicate with Danley, and the positive performances that he and Mbaizo have had on the right together on the road against NYCFC and NYRB, were both factors in deciding the starting XI against Orlando.
4-4-2 Diamond
GK: Andre Blake
RB: Olivier Mbaizo, CB: Jakob Glesnes, CB: Jack Elliott, LB: Kai Wagner
CDM: Danley
RCM: Ale Bedoya. LCM: Jack McGlynn
CAM: Daniel Gazdag
ST: Tai Baribo, ST: Mikael Uhre
Union Survive First Half Pressure
Orlando came out of the gates looking to pressure Union into making mistakes and making them pay with an early goal. They created a few dangerous chances early on from swinging the ball from Andre Blake’s right-hand side through the middle of the box, but both attempts narrowly evaded a deflection into the net.
Union’s backline came up with a number of huge blocks to keep Union level on the road heading into half-time. Kai Wagner made a big one on a ball sent to the back-post that would have otherwise resulted in a clear look on net.
A few minutes later, Union needed a duo of blocks from Danley and Jakob Glesnes inside the penalty area to keep the game scoreless. Jakob Glesnes lead all players with 4 blocks on the night.
Facu Torres Opens Scoring in 2nd Half
Union did well to get to half-time with the score still scoreless, which is typically a good sign for teams playing on the road, but all of that was undone just 11 minutes into the 2nd half when Facu Torres buried a record-breaking goal, giving Orlando a 1-0 lead and making himself Orlando’s all time leading goal-scorer. Luis Muriel, who came off the bench at half-time, is credited with the assist of Torres’ goal.
Looking back at the goal, Jim Curtin has to be annoyed at how easily Orlando manipulated and penetrated his backline – the same one that set record setting defensive numbers just 2 seasons ago.
McGuire Makes It 2-0
Less than 10 minutes after Orlando took a 1-0 lead, Luis Muriel made an impact off the bench once again with a fantastic pass through the mid-field that sprung Duncan McGuire behind Union’s backline. With Glesnes out of position, Jack Elliott and Kai Wagner did their best to chase Orlando’s striker down, but McGuire did well to settle the ball and place it the bottom corner to double Orlando’s lead.
Luis Muriel against is credited with the assist, moving his goal contribution total agains the Philadelphia Union to 4 in the 2024 season (2G, 2A)
Sullivan Scores to Keep Hopes Alive
Down 2-0 on the road, Union got their own contribution from the bench to get them back in the game. Less than 10 minutes after coming into the game, Quinn Sullivan pulled Union within 1 when he slammed a low-cross through the penalty area off the under-side of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
The goal was Quinn Sullivan’s 4th goal of the MLS season, and was assisted by Daniel Gazdag, his 3rd assist of the campaign.
Nate Harriel Can’t Head Union Level
Inside the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time, Nate Harriel missed 3 different headers coming from Kai Wagner corner kicks that would have drawn Union level late in the game. The 3 missed opportunities from Harriel gave him the highest Expected Goals total of any player in the game in just 26 minutes played (1.03 xG).
On another night you have to think at least one of those finds the back of the net, and Harriel reportedly took his missed opportunities to level the game a bit hard after the final whistle. He’s a young player who’s been really good for Union, probably better than most would have ever imagined. I hope Nate is able to have a short-memory with this one and chooses to focus the goal he scored against Atlanta instead. Union need him to play big in the final 2 games of the season.
Moving Forward
So where does the 2-1 loss leave the Philadelphia Union? With 2 games left in their season, they currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, outside the playoffs with hopes hinging on a tie-breaker in the standings with Toronto FC – who only have 1 game remaining.
In order to get into a playoff spot, Union will have to get a result against Columbus on the road on Saturday, or at home against FC Cincinnati on Decision Day – if not some combination of both. Somehow, miraculously, there’s still a world where Union end up in 8th place, and host the play-in game between the 8 and 9 seed, but they have to figure out a way to get some points in Columbus on a quick-turnaround Saturday night.
If they don’t get points in Columbus over the weekend, and if DC and Montreal get results over the weekend, Union’s playoff chances could come down to a Decision Day finish for the final spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff picture.
