The Rivalry Continues Union Strike Back and Defeat City

5/27/23

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J.J. Pavlick

The matchup between the two giants in MLS should be close and hard-fought despite both teams’ struggles this season. It’s Military Heroes Night at Citifield during the Memorial Day weekend festivities in NYC. Philadelphia comes in sitting in 5th place while the host team NYCFC is in 10th. However, both teams struggle away from home this season, it should be a close battle even with NYCFC playing at one of their two alternate home fields. Gazdag leads Philadelphia in goals with six, followed up by Carranza and Uhre who have five a piece. NYCFC on the other hand is led by S. Rodriguez with four goals followed by Talles Magno and Gabriel Pereira with three a piece. The Union are currently on a three-game win streak vs NYCFC including the playoffs, the only team to defeat the NY side four straight is their Hudson River rival NY Red Bull. Not an earth-shattering story but the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union are the only teams this season not to score via a header. If there is a penalty kick tonight for the Union, look for Mr. Perfect Gazdag to step up and take it. In 13 attempts he has converted every single one. He’s gone left four times to the left, five times to the right, and four times right down the middle. Tonight’s center has issued the third most foul calls, the second most yellow cards, and the third most red cards this season.

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Tonight’s match is the first time these two sides have met at Citifield the other games have been at Yankee Stadium or Red Bull Arena throughout the rivalry. In the 10′ Blake has to make a diving save low 1st post off a shot from centerfield about 40 yards from the goal. It was a hard-driven shot that dipped. The free kick taken by Damion Lowe, from behind the second base bag, is sent to the right of the goal, played out by NYC with ease, an unforced error saw a Union Cross that was grabbed by Barraza before getting to the 2nd post in the 12′. In the 16′ Philadelphia caused some chaos on a Wagner corner kick, however, the Union was caught offside on the third touch. Diving save NYCFC goalkeeper Barraza toward the 1st post, off a Union free kick taken by Wagner, the kick is taken from shallow left field about 35 yards from the goal in the 18′.

Great diving save by the Union’s Blake in the 22′ going full stretch to the 2nd post, where two players awaited a rebound. Blake managed to push it out of play and was injured in his efforts. He appears to be okay and ready to play again. Restart is ruled a goal kick, they say it touched NYCFC on the way out. Keaton Parks goes down in the box holding his face but nothing on replay shows a foul, despite the desire by Parks for VAR help. In the 28′ NYCFC earns a free kick 35 yards from the goal, they go with trickery, but it’s stopped easily by the Union defense. In the 29′ a yellow card is shown to Jakob Glesnes for his tackle at midfield. In the 30′ NYCFC finds the back of the goal off a Rodrigues pass to Pereira for the goal inside the box 8 yards from the right of the goal, shot low to the opposite side inside the 2nd post. The score is now 1 – 0 NYCFC, midway

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through the first half.

It is important to note that all of NYCFC’s victories this season have come when they enter the half-up 1 – 0. The Union to this point has been held to 3 shots, 1 on target and 2 off target, while NYC has six shots, 5 on target and 1 off target entering the 38′ of play in the first half. A yellow card is issued to Tayvon Gray for a harsh foul near outside the box about 30 yards from the goal. Gabriel Pereira hits the outside of the upper 90 far 2nd post in the 43′ and Blake is relieved as he was beaten on the play. In the 45′ the fourth official indicates a minimum of 4′, also Julian Carranza scores his 6th goal of the season to level the match at 1 – 1, going dead center of the goal to beat Barraza from the Center of the box, assist to Jake Elliot. Now it’s 2 – 1 Union, and once again it’s Julian Carranza now with his 7th goal of the season, he goes to the same spot as his last goal three minutes earlier, Mikael Uhre with the assist on the goal. So, at 45’+3′, it’s 2 – 1 Union with about 3′ left to the half. NYCFC was dominating but a lack of judgment by Tayvon Gray costs his side the lead. NYCFC tries to tie it up last second, but Blake stands tall saving the low-driven shot by Pereira. At half, it stands 2 – 1 Philadelphia, NY will have to do what they’ve failed to do so far this season and come from behind.

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The second half has started as bad as it can for the NYC side, Thiago Martins is shown a yellow card, and a penalty kick is awarded after the foul on Carranza, Gazdag takes it and converts. That makes him 14 for 14 now and he continues to break his record for most consecutive penalties converted in MLS history, it also ties him for the team lead in goals with Carranza each with 7 goals. The Union is up 3 – 1 now in the 53′, two minutes later Martins would need to be subbed off due to injury, replaced by Tony Alfaro. In the 61′ K. O’Toole is issued a yellow card after his foul on a poorly timed tackle. in the 62′ NYC makes two substitutions bringing on G. Segal and Talles Magno for A. Jasson and R. Ledezma. Blake came very close to surrendering a penalty kick in the 64′, instead the center and VAR say corner kick. NYC can’t get anything going right now in the second half. If NY wants back into this match they need some kind of spark now, or very soon at least as we’re now in the 67′. NYC is going for cute and fancy when they need solid and proven, will Nick Cushing’s make a move or two? NYC has had two good chances but good doesn’t beat Blake, it takes extraordinary to beat Andre Blake in MLS. In the 74′ Philadelphia brings on Jesus Bueno for Mikael Uhre. Barraza with a huge save in the 80′ to keep it a 3 – 1 scoreline, Union tried to go 1st post but the keeper was up to the challenge. Things have fallen apart for NYC they now only lead in shots 11 to 10, of those shots for NYC 7 have been on target, 4 off target, and 1 went in of the 7 on target. However, Philadelphia now has 5 on target, 5 off target, and 3 have gone in. 83′ a yellow card was issued to Union’s Jesus Bueno. In the 86′ NYC makes a substitution bringing on Braian Cufre for Tayvon Gray and the Union bring on Chris Donovan for Julian Carranza meaning we won’t see a hat trick tonight. Looks like Philadelphia has this one in the bag with very little time left to play, we’re in the 89′ and even if they add a ridiculous amount of added time, NYC is going to need divine intervention to get a result tonight. The fourth shows a minimum of 5′ additional added to the second half of play, the struggles continue for NYCFC when they trail in matches. That’s it this edition of the rivalry is over, today Philadelphia comes out victorious.

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