Photo credit: Kyle Grantham/Philly Soccer Page
The Philadelphia Union returned to Subaru Park on Saturday night, where they battled Orlando City SC to a 0-0 draw. The first half ended scoreless with the Union outshooting Orlando 10-1. In the second half, the Union took ten more shots but could not find the back of the net. Goalkeeper Andre Blake made three saves to secure his 80th MLS shutout and his second of the 2025 MLS season.
How The Match Unfolded
Head Coach Bradley Carnell changed his lineup for a third straight match, this time making a change up top. Mikael Uhre began the match on the bench for the first time this year. Instead, Bruno Damiani made his second Union start, partnering with Tai Baribo. The rest of the lineup was the same as it was last weekend in Miami – Jovan Lukic, Daniel Gazdag, Danley, and Quinn Sullivan in the midfield, while the backline featured Ian Glavinovich and Jakob Glesnes at centerback, plus Homegrowns Frankie Westfield and Nate Harriel as wing backs. Routine starter Kai Wagner was missing from the matchday roster again this week, out with an oblique injury. Andre Blake started in net with Andrew Rick as his backup on the sidelines alongside Cavan Sullivan, Jesus Bueno, Alejandro Bedoya, Olivier Mbaizo, Indiana Vassilev, Chris Donovan, and Olwethu Makhanya.
While Damiani was the only personnel change from last week, a positional change became apparent come game time. Carnell opted to swap Harriel and Westfield’s sides, starting the more senior Homegrown on the left.
As for Orlando City, they were missing two players that weren’t part of their official injury report. Neither César Araújo and Eduard Atuesta made the trip — both players started in Orlando’s most recent win against LAFC.
First Half
Neither side found the back of the net through the first 25 minutes, though the Union created more chances with five shots to Orlando’s zero. There may have been a lack of goals, but there was no lack of intensity on the pitch with seven fouls committed between the two sides in that opening span.
Orlando’s first shot of the night was a promising one, but Blake once again reminded fans why he has been voted MLS Goalkeeper of the Year three times. After a missed tackle by Glesnes, Martin Ojeda broke away to find himself and Marco Pašalić against a lone Harriel. Ojeda passed to Pašalić for the shot, but Blake dove to get a hand on it, diverting it just in time for Glesnes and Glavinovich to track back and protect him long enough to gain full possession.
Second Half
The Union came out of the locker room unchanged and continued to push for an opening goal and nearly found it less than two minutes into the second half. Decisive passes from Baribo and Westfield put the Union facing toward the Orlando goal with a sharp pass out wide to Gazdag near the corner flag to break open the sequence. The Union’s all-time leading scorer ripped a cross for a sliding Damiani but once again goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was properly positioned to make the save.
Shortly after the Union made their first changes of the night sending on Uhre and Vassilev in place of Damiani and Gazdag, Orlando nearly stole momentum with a counter attacking chance. Winning ball in the middle of the pitch, Ojeda grabbed possession on the left side and dribbled into the attacking third waiting for a partner to run into the play. Cutting inside centrally, the No. 10 laid off a pass to Luis Muriel for a one timer that Blake pushed away.
15-year-old Cavan Sullivan entered the match with little time remaining in the contest alongside Bedoya as the Boys in Blue pushed for the game-winning goal. Replacing his brother as an attacking midfielder, the homegrown nearly became the second youngest scorer in MLS history but his sliding effort was just off the mark.
PSP’s 3 Points
- Blake the Hero: This particular author may not have given keeper Blake enough credit through the first six games of season. No longer. Blake single-handedly earned the Union a point tonight, saving them once again from defensive lapses.
- Possession: The Boys in Blue dominated possession, 63% to 37% on the night and outshot Orlando twenty-one to six. All to no avail.
- Is Kai Wagner Irreplaceable?: Once again, Wagner’s abductor injury kept him from dressing for this game. His absence meant shifting Westfield from left back to right in a failed effort to create some offense on the left side. Again, Wagner’s absence was greatly felt.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union (4-2-2-2):
Andre Blake; Frankie Westfield, Ian Glavinovich, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel; Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean Jacques, Quinn Sullivan (Cavan Sullivan 81’), Daniel Gazdag (Indiana Vassilev 68’); Bruno Damiani (Mikael Uhre 68’), Tai Baribo (Alejandro Bedoya 81’).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Olwethu Makhanya, Olivier Mbaizo, Jesus Bueno, Chris Donovan.
Orlando SC (4-4-2):
Pedro Gallese; Alex Freeman, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, David Brekalo; Marco Pašalić (Kyle Smith 67’), Joran Gerbet, Dagur Thorhallsson, Iván Angulo (Duncan McGuire 46’); Martín Ojeda (Colin Guske 90’), Luis Muriel (Ramiro Enrique 83’). .
Substitutes not used: avier Otero, Rafael Santos, Thomas Williams, Gustavo Caraballo, Shakur Mohammed.
Disciplinary Summary:
ORL – Robin Jansson (yellow card) 35’
ORL – Luis Muriel (yellow card) 52’
ORL – Joran Gerbet (yellow card) 58’
PHI – Bruno Damiani (yellow card) 65’
PHI – Nathan Harriel (yellow card) 74’
ORL – Dagur Thorhallsson (yellow card) 75’
PHI – Quinn Sullivan (yellow card) 76’
PHI – Indiana Vassilev (yellow card) 90+3’
ORL – Pedro Gallese (yellow card) 90+4’
A for effort, but that was hard to watch. 90 minutes of chaos.
Somehow they need to figure out how to beat the low block. They have never figured how to beat that or play well when they have a man advantage .
Wagner is the second most valuable player on this team behind Blake. He has been at the top of the list for Assists every year. His ability as a dual purpose left back is unique Especially corner kicks . When he is out the left side of the attack is not the same. Well worth his salary. As was reported by your staff last week . In the last several year the Unions win record is under 35 % when he is not on the field
+ 1
Spot On!
Orlando played this game like a lower league side hoping for a cup draw and a replay at their stadium – putrid soccer from them and all the more disappointing given their high-priced attacking talent.
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In just a few weeks, the U went to Orlando’s place and won and then dominated them in the return leg but settled for a draw. Stop telling me Orlando is good, they’ve proven twice now they can’t hang.
Eh, but they lost both starting midfielders (Atuesta, Araujo) 2 days before the game and the other starter Cartegena is out for the year. I’m sure they didn’t want to play like that, but out of necessity, don’t you think?
Maybe.
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But when the U went down a half dozen players against St. Louis a few weeks ago, they didn’t cower – they leaned in to what they do best with a patchwork formation and dominated.
The keeper was time-wasting in the first 5 minutes of the game. They were diving all over the field. They were stalling on every throw-in.
This was the type of soccer that makes it very difficult to defend the sport to newbies. Orlando played trash soccer for 90 minutes. Despite 9 yellows, it still felt like the ref was ok with all of it.
It was a very frustrating night.
So same point total as last year thru 7 games, but without Champions League. Difference this year will be that Blake won’t miss 20 games in league. And probably a reversion to the mean of not having insanely bad luck.
And while Damiani brings energy for sure, he’s basically a better version of Donovan. No way he’s worth $3.5 million or whatever they paid for him.
1. Union had 10 points through 7 games last year. 13 this year.
2. Damiani has started 2 games. 2. We don’t know if he is worth $3.5m. He may very well be.
1. Union had 10 points through 7 games last year. 13 this year.
2. Damiani has started 2 games. 2. We don’t know if he is worth $3.5m. He may very well be.
1. Incorrect. Union were 3-0-4 (3 Wins, 4 Ties) for 13 points thru the 1st 7 games in 2024. They were the last undefeated team in MLS.
2. We will see, but I don’t think so. He can run, but watch him technically with his 1st touch, inability to create space with the ball, etc.
What about the sub of Gazdag for Vassilev?!? That reeks of some prejudice on the coach’s part for some try-hard guy with a good mustache but not much soccer skill. Take our best attacking player out at the end of a tied game? Um. I think the wins at the beginning of the season might be the outlier. And now we have a more reasonable assessment of this team’s ceiling: mid-table, make the playoffs, lose to better funded and better coached teams. So, basically the Curtin years all over again.
Watching on TV, it apparently was so windy at the match that it kept blowing over the Orlando players. Every little contact (and sometimes only a union player getting remotely close to them) resulted in an Orlando player lying on the ground
Only 2 possible ways that sub makes sense to me:
1) Gazdag was totally gassed
2) Carnel was doubling down on trying to score off turnovers in the offensive zone and thought that Vassilev would press more effectively.
Otherwise, I agree – why take off one of your most technical / creative player when you are trying to break down the low block?
Anyone else think that was a foul in the box on Damiani?
Seemed like a push in the back with an extended arm.
It totally was.
We were all yelling VAR from the club to no avail.
That was some Boring shit.
Looked like a high school match, maybe junior high.
Kai is missed. Never should have let McGlynn go.
Danley is not the answer.
Could be a long season…
McGlynns 1st goal for Houston was awesome. Who ever would have thought of moving him up to an attacking midfield spot since he is a defensive liability? Jim? Bradley?