Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union started their season in fashion with a high flying road victory over Orlando City. Despite giving up an early goal amid a rocky start to the game, the Boys in Blue settled into the match, and scored four unanswered goals in a comeback win. The Big Three of Mikael Uhre, Daniel Gazdag and Tai Baribo were all on the score sheet. This marked the first win over the Lions since 2022 and the first win of the Bradley Carnell era.

First Half

Between the young players, new signings, and a tweaked system, it wasn’t surprising to see the Union have a shaky start. Orlando’s Marko Pašalić nearly scored with the first shot of the game. As such, the first several minutes were a nervy affair. Orlando was able to beat the Union’s press while Union players made several bad turnovers. A goal for the Lions looked likely.

Orlando would find that early goal through their new DP Marco Pašalić. Pašalić combined well with Atuesta, and as the Ecuadorian continued his run forward, it opened up space for Pašalić. The Croatian winger drove into the box and finished low past Andre Blake after just 8 minutes. 

After the goal, the Union appeared to settle into the game. Their mistakes lessened and the press started to do some damage. 

The Boys in Blue levelled things up in the 23rd minute through Tai Baribo. Quinn Sullivan did well to put in a challenge on a Lion’s player, and won the ball back in Orlando’s third. While his pass towards Baribo was blocked away, Wagner picked it up near the endline and sent in a low cross, giving Baribo a tap-in.

Blake was needed in the 36th minute when Pašalić took a rip from long range. The Jamiacan netminder did well to parry the knuckling shot away for a corner which the Union cleared away without incident. 

The first half ended with a golden chance for the Union. From a corner, Glesnes filicked Wagner’s delivery to the back post. Danley, battling with a Lions defender, was able to head the ball back across goal. Despite both Uhre and Baribo arriving at the spot, neither were able to turn the ball in and Head Referee Rubiel Vazquez sounded the whistle for half-time.

Second Half

The second half saw the Union flip the script. 

Philly were able to score two goals in quick succession. Daniel Gazdag gave them the lead. Sullivan, driving in from the left, cut the ball to his right foot, and delivered an in-swinging ball to the back post. Gazdag had to stretch, but he was able to re-direct the ball from an acute angle past Gallese. 

Then it was Uhre’s turn. 

The Danish striker scored a rare goal from outside the box. Lions defender David Brekhalo, under pressure from Baribo, played a dangerous ball to Rodrigo Schlegel who miscontroled it. Uhre was first to pounce. He wasted no time, hitting a first time shot from just in front of the ‘D’ that caught Gallese by surprise.

After just six minutes of play, it was 3-1 Union.

In response, Orlando head coach Oscar Pareja brought on Colombian international Luis Muriel and homegrown player Alex Freeman.

The Lions started to turn up the heat. Orlando came close to pulling one back in the 62nd minute. A free kick, about 40 yards out, saw Martín Ojeda’s delivery find an open Freeman, but the homegrown’s header clanged off the crossbar.

In the 64th minute, the Union struck again. Baribo started the attack with a pass to Gazdag. The Hungarian slipped a through ball to the onrushing Frankie Westfield. Westfield slotted a cross to Baribo and the Union’s new number 9 finished from close range to bag a brace. It was Westfield’s first MLS assist.

Carnell turned to his bench in the 71st minute, bringing on Alejandro Bedoya and Chris Donovan, and seemingly switching formations in an effort to stem the Orlando pressure and shut up shop. 

In the 77th minute, Orlando had a massive chance. Freeman took the ball to the endline and squared a ball to Iván Angulo, who looked like he had an open net. However, his shot was blocked by the well positioned Westfield, saving a sure goal.

The Lions finally pulled one back through Pašalić in the 79th minute. After some lackluster defending by the Union on a set piece, Pašalić turned in the ball past Blake following a chaotic sequence where it hit the crossbar and the upright. 

Carnell brought on further defensive reinforcements to see out the win, handing loanee Ian Glavinovich his debut and subbing on Olivier Mbazio for the young Westfield. With trauma from the 2024 season still fresh in the collectie consciousness of Union Land, Philly Phaithful might have been worried about a late collapse. However, the Boys in Blue were able to hold out and secured the first win of the 2025 MLS season. 

3 Points

• Return to Winning Ways
  • The Union took a strong first step in clearing away the miasma that has lingered from the past season or two. While it was only the first game, and although there are clearly areas to improve on, rallying to a comeback win is a good sign. It’s still early days but this result should give the new coach, his players, and the fans, some much-needed confidence.

• Carnell’s Carnage 
  • This was the world’s first official look at the new system that Carnell is employing. The initial use of the 4-2-2-2 seemed to work well, once the Union settled in. It did seem that the Orlando players were forced into making several key mistakes as a result of the Union’s press most notably on Philly’s first and third goals. The big question remains: Will it work in the long term? 

• Home Grown Defenders
  • How about that? Makhanya finally gets his Union debut. He was joined on the backline by fellow debutant Frankie Westfield. Both were standout performers for Union II last season. Both rose to the occasion and impressed in their Union debuts. That two of U II’s key players can make the transition to the first team after one offseason is a good sign for the Union pipeline. 

Lineups

Philadelphia Union (4-2-2-2): 

Andre Blake, Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, Frankie Westfield (Mbaizo 88’), Danley Jean-Jacques, Jovan Lukić, Quinn Sullivan, Daniel Gazdag (Glavinovich 84’), Tai Baribo (Donovan 71’), Mikael Uhre (Bedoya 71’)

Unused Subs: Andrew Rick, Neil Pierre, Jeremy Rafanello, Jesús Bueno, Cavan Sullivan

Orlando City SC (4-2-3-1): 

Pedro Gallese, Dagur Þórhallsson (Alex Freeman 56′), Rodrigo Schlegel, Robin Jansson, Rafael Santos, Eduard Atuesta (Joran Gerbet 71′), César Araújo, Iván Angulo (Nicolás Rodríguez 80′), Martín Ojeda, Marco Pašalić, Ramiro Enrique (Luis Muriel 56′)

Unused Subs: Thomas Williams, Gustavo Cabarallo, Javier Otero, Colin Guske, Kyle Smith

Scoring Summary:

ORL – Marco Pašalić – 8′

PHI – Tai Baribo – 23′

PHI – Daniel Gazdag – 48′

PHI – Mikael Uhre – 51′

PHI – Tai Baribo – 64′

ORL – Marco Pašalić – 79′

Disciplinary Summary:

ORL – Araújo – 31′ (Yellow Card)

PHI – Mikael Uhre – 33′ (Yellow Card)

PHI – Lukić – 58′ (Yellow Card)