Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union came from behind to defeat the Colorado Rapids on a warm summer night in Chester. The result puts the Union back on top in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race heading into the Leagues Cup break.
First Half
The Union were dominant throughout the first half, winning the possession battle and creating chance after chance, but were somehow unable to find the back of the net. In the 23rd minute a scrambling Steffen somehow saved a Damiani header and kept the Danley follow up from trickling over the line. Just two minutes later, Danley had another great chance from inside the six-yard box, but Sullivan’s cross ricocheted off his shin and over the cross-bar of the open net.
The Union’s finishing woes came back to bite them toward the end of the first half as Colorado opened the scoring. Cavin Harris won a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge against Kai Wagner, leading to a Colorado breakaway. Cole Bassett put the initial shot off the crossbar, but Rafael Navarro was there to head home the rebound.
Second Half
The Union continued to press in the second half, with close-range shots from Baribo and Sullivan drawing smart saves from Steffen. But the Union finally found their breakthrough in the 64th minute through their leading scorer. Wagner hooked a beautiful ball in after a short corner and Baribo was there to finish at the back post.
The Union continued to press, and found the winner through substitute Mikael Uhre in the 89th minute. Uhre collected the ball from Indiana Vassilev at the top of the box, touched away from the Rapids defenders, then rifled the ball into the far corner and passed a sprawling Steffen.
As the Rapids pressed for an equalizer in stoppage time, Uhre found space in behind for a second goal, running onto a throughball from Alejandro Bedoya and finishing through the legs of Steffen.
All Three Points
Steffen Heroics/Finishing Woes: The Union took 30 shots and drew 8 saves from Steffen. All credit to Steffen, he had a great night, but some of those were down to some dreadful Union misses.
Super-Sub Uhre: It’s been a tough year for Uhre, who entered the night with just two goals in nineteen MLS appearances this season. But tonight’s brace won the game for the Union, and pushed Uhre up to fourth-place on the all-time Union goalscoring chart. With his speed, Uhre could be a dangerous super-sub down the stretch.
Back On Top: This win, combined with Nashville’s loss last night and Cincinnati’s draw against Miami, puts the Union back on top of the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race with nine games to go.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Olivier Mbaizo, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, Kai Wagner, Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean Jacques, Indiana Vassilev (Jeremy Rafenello 94’), Quinn Sullivan (Alejandro Bedoya 73’), Bruno Damiani (Mikael Uhre 73’), Tai Baribo (Sal Olivas 92’)
Substitutes not used: Oliver Semmle, Andrew Rick, Chris Donovan, Neil Pierre, Jesús Bueno
Colorado Rapids: Zack Steffen; Reggie Cannon, Ian Murphy, Andreas Maxsø, Sam Vines, Joshua Atencio (Oliver Larraz 52’), Cole Bassett, Djordje Mihailovic, Ted Ku-Dipietro (Samuel Bassett 83’), Calvin Harris (Darren Yapi 75’), Rafael Navarro
Substitutes not used: Wayne Frederick, Nico Hansen, Keegan Rosenberry, Jackson Travis, Alex Harris
TODAY’S MATCH INFO
Referee: Malik Badawi
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Gianni Facchini
Fourth Official: Joshua Encarnacion
Weather: 80 degrees and partly cloudy
GOALS/ASSISTS
COL – Rafael Navarro (unassisted) 37’
PHI – Tai Baribo (Kai Wagner, Jovan Lukic) 64’
PHI – Mikael Uhre (Indiana Vassilev) 89’
PHI – Mikael Uhre (Alejandro Bedoya) 95’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
COL – Djordje Mihailovic (caution) 60’
COL – Reggie Cannon (caution) 69’
COL – Zack Steffen (caution) 79’
PHI – Tai Baribo (caution) 85’
They definitely need to work on their finishing, especially Danley, Lukic, and Makhanya who all missed from point blank range. They also need to avoid giving up so many counterattacks when they have that much possession.
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Good to see so much from Uhre. I think he is better coming off the bench as a sub against tired defenses. That’s when he gets most of his best chances, all the way back to what I think was his first goal for the team back in 2022 against New England.
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Also good that the only yellow was against Baribo (although it was a stupid one to take) who was not one of the 4 on the verge of suspension.
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Until the third Union goal, Steffan was much the better keeper tonight.
His first goal for the Union was also the first goal ever scored at Geodis Park. He scored against Nashville in 2022.
Updating from a post I made after the Houston game: With most teams having 9 games remaining, I thought I would look at the schedules of the top 5 teams in the east. The Union and Nashville are both still alive in the Open Cup. The other three teams all have the Leagues Cup with 3 to 6 games to play there.
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The Union have 2 games on the road against top 5 teams, 1 in each conference.
They have 4 games against teams in positions 6-10, 2 at home and 2 on the road.
They have 3 games against bottom 5 teams, 2 at home and 1 on the road.
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Cincinnati has 2 games against top 5 teams, both at home.
They have 5 games against middle 5 teams, 3 at home and 2 on the road.
They have 2 games against bottom 5 teams, 1 at home and 1 on the road.
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Nashville has 2 games against top 5 teams, 1 at home and 1 on the road.
They have 3 games against middle 5 teams, 1 at home and 2 on the road.
They have 4 games against bottom 5 teams, 2 at home and 2 on the road.
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Columbus has no games against top 5 teams.
They have 5 games against middle 5 teams, 1 at home and 4 on the road.
They have 4 games against bottom 5 teams, 2 at home and 2 on the road.
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Messi has 2 games against top 5 teams, 1 at home and 1 on the road.
He has 4 games against middle 5 teams, 1 at home and 3 on the road.
He has 6 games against bottom 5 teams, 4 at home and 2 on the road.
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Before the weekend I said that Columbus has the easiest schedule, but losing at home to Orlando doesn’t help them. They are now 5 points out of 2nd and 6 points out of 1st. The Union probably have the second easiest schedule. But Messi has to be a favorite with 3 games in hand and only 1 on the road against a top team (at Nashville).
Thanks Andy.
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Please keep updating this? If you have time?
Union were the MUCH better side tonight, and could (should?) have had at least three more goals with better finishing. The Union look so much better when they are on the counter. When they win the possession battle, they just look slow and predictable in the build up.
It is a gift that the Union have three quality strikers – a luxury this team has never had. I remain a Damiani fan. It seems as if he has observed the defensive work that Baribo and Uhre put in and has decided to do the same.
One question for the group – why would there be two goalies on the bench tonight? Do they really have no other field players capable of being on the bench just in case? That seemed really odd to me.
Re: Semmle & Rick both being on the bench. Who else was left? Union II played today. Harriel and Westfield suspended. Olney and Vasquez loaned out. Bender injured. Cavan in England. There was no one else.
To reinforce the point above, Union II played earlier in the afternoon with only four field players available as substitutes. They dressed 16 for their match.
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They won, 2-0.
Tanner has a tendency to sign someone in the summer who will have a better chance at contributing next season. Last year it was Danley Jean Jacques who was signed on August 8th. They’ve moved some players, I wonder if Tanner will make a move this year? The team could use another creator for the stretch run.
Christ. It was muggy as hell out there. No breeze to speak of. But the U got it done. Well done.
Happy to see Uhre get the 2 goals. My season would made if the Union beat Miami with Messi in the line up in the playoffs. Garber will try his best to somehow make it very difficult for any team that faces. MIAMI. scheduling, ref selection, anything he an possibly do to make his poster child’s team have an edge. The MLS web site should be called the Messi/ Miami web site. It sickens me .