Photo: Ron Soliman

The Union traveled up I-95 on Wednesday evening where they stole all three points from rival New York City FC at Yankee Stadium (a baseball field). This time, there weren’t any raccoon cameos to spoil the Union hopes, as the Boys in Blue hung five goals on NYCFC.

The Union were without their starting goalkeeper Andre Blake and Danley Jean-Jacques due to injuries for the second straight match. Jack Elliott was also out serving a suspension.

The lack of those three starters did not hinder the Union from opening the scoring for a second consecutive match. Tai Baribo loitered in the NYC penalty area after a broken down set piece, and headed home a chance headed into the area by Olivier Mbaizo for the Union’s 16th set piece goal on the year.

Mikael Uhre extended the lead 10 minutes later, as he was able to coolly finish off a pass from Tai Baribo just outside the NYC penalty area. Baribo unexpectedly found the ball at his feet after an errant NYC clearance, who found Uhre setting up for a shot. The Dane’s collected curling finish low to Freese’s left put an exclamation point on the sequence.

Andrew Rick made a Blake-esque save a few minutes later to deny Keaton Parks as the NYC man was in alone behind the Union back-line. But his one-touch strike was too close to Rick to cause any real trouble.

Moments later, the Union made NYCFC pay for another mistake. McGlynn whipped in a lovely cross to Baribo who headed it into the unsteady hands of Freese. The former Union keeper couldn’t handle the save, and Gazdag was there to put it home.

Just before the whistle went for half time, NYC were able to get on the board. Alonso Martinez finished a cross sent in by Keaton Parks and NYC were able to head to the locker room with their heads up.

The second half started off with both sides docile for the first 15 minutes before Rick was tested. NYC were able to work a move into the Union penalty area, when a strike was unleashed forcing Rick into a quick reactionary diving save.

The Union remained on their heels.

Minutes later, NYCFC were in with Keaton Parks dashing right through the Union backline after Harriel got pulled out of position, but he sent his effort off the post.

Rick added another grey hair to his young wig just a minute later when Nate Harriel made a mess of a clearance, which deflected off of an New York player and almost over Rick and into the net. The Union GK sprawled to get a palm on the ball just before it made it to the goal-line – saving his team again.

All these chances conceded, yet it was the Union who would have the last laugh. The Union’s 17th set-piece goal came from the head of Jakob Glesnes off a Kai Wagner corner in the 74th minute.

Jesus Bueno would add another to get the Union its fifth goal on the night and the Venezuelan’s third on the year.

In the 90th minute, phenom Cavan Sullivan entered for Daniel Gazdag. The 14 year-old’s couple of touches were effective – most notably turning around NYC defender Kevin O’Toole on the counter and breaking away with speed before drawing a yellow card.

Five goals to the good, and one to NYCFC is how things would end as the Union handed New York their eighth consecutive winless match in MLS play.

With five games remaining, the Union currently sit in the 9th and last playoff spot in the Eastern conference. The Boys in Blue will return home this Sunday to face another I-95 corridor foe in 10th place DC United at 6:55 PM.

Three Points

• Coming out hot- The Union really took it to NYC in the first frame – hanging three on NYC in just a little over a half an hour into the match. The team also exhibited some stout defense and good goalkeeper play early to ~almost~ see their three goal advantage into half-time.
• Lapses in concentration – The Union continue to exhibit lapses in concentration. Tonight those lapses lead directly to a goal and a bevy of chances against them. While excuses can be made about not having Andre Blake or Jack Elliott, these are errors that seem to happen no matter who is in the lineup. This has been a concern all season, and remains a concern as the team fight for a playoff spot. (Yeah I know, complaining after a 5-1 win? Come on!)
• A win is a win – is a win is a win is a win is a win…  The team find themselves in the middle of a playoff scrap. The temperature is heating up as they sit level on points with DC United – who they meet at Subaru Park on Sunday. After a long season, stacking wins heading into the playoffs is certainly one way to change the overall complexion of the side.

Lineups

Philadelphia Union 

Andrew Rick, Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel, Olivier Mbaizo, Alejandro Bedoya (Jesus Bueno — 79′), Leon Flach, Jack McGlynn, Daniel Gazdag (Cavan Sullivan — 90′), Tai Baribo (Quinn Sullivan — 79′), Mikael Uhre (Sam Adeniran — 67′)

Unused subs: Oliver Semmle, Olwethu Makhanya, CJ Olney, Jeremy Rafanello, Chris Donovan

New York City FC

Matt Freese, James Sands, Santiago Rodriguez (Andres Perea — 58′), Strahinja Tansijevic, Thiago Martins, Alonso Martinez, Hannes Wolf (Mounsef Bakrar — 58′), Kevin O’Toole, Tavon Gray, Agustin Ojeda, Keaton Parks

Unused subs: Luis Barraza, Jovan Mijatovic, Julian Fernandez, Christian McFarlane, Maximiliano Moralez, Mija Ilenic, Justin Haak

Scoring Summary

PHI: Tai Baribo — 15′

PHI: Mikael Uhre — 25′

PHI: Daniel Gazdag — 31′

NYC: Alonso Martinez — 45+5′

PHI: Jakob Glesnes — 74′

PHI: Jesus Bueno — 85′

Discipline Summary

PHI: Daniel Gazdag — Yellow card 42′ (foul)

NYC: Strahinja Tansijevic — Yellow card 51′ (foul)

NYC: Kevin O’Toole — Yellow card 90′ (foul)