Photo: Marjorie Elzey

Another game, another comeback win for the Union. Mikael Uhre’s two late goals propelled the Union to their third win in their last five matches.

In the wake of draw in Houston last weekend, Philadelphia got back on track with a 3-1 win over Colorado on Saturday. The Boys in Blue have quickly found a foothold after a two game losing skid to Columbus and Nashville that pushed Philly out of first place.

This match, behind a slightly different approach and two goals from their super sub, the Union rode the Rapids off the pitch for the majority of the ninety minutes.

Sacrificing rest defense for improved chance creation

On the night, the Union’s chance creation was the story. Their 4.0 expected goals on 27 shots with 61% of the possession were all season highs for the Union in MLS play.

These chances were primarily buttressed by Philly’s success playing forward. The Union’s 66 progressive passes to Colorado’s 19, illustrates just how apparent the field tilt the Union had in their favor.

Certainly, the bevy of chances the Union created did not immediately translate to goals. It took until the 65th minute for the Union to find the net. However, the Union exhibited the ability to win in a different fashion – through retaining possession and creating consistent chances against a low-ish block.

Graphic from WhoScored.com

“They are really good on the jump with the two strikers and with the press, but once you break that, you’re able to play angled passes through the lines,” Carnell noted in his presser. “And then in the final third, it is a group [Colorado defense] who do back up.”

In possession, Philly looked to build from a 2-4-4 shape, with Glesnes and Makhanya at the base. The outside backs both played in an advanced role, creating consistent width and keeping Colorado’s wide players in their 4-4-2 pinned back into their own half.

This commitment of numbers further up the field by Philly was something Colorado looked to take advantage of in transition. The aggressive shape in possession for the Union did expose them in a few instances as Colorado’s opener came off a turnover, with the Union’s lacking rest defense being the culprit.

Perhaps for multiple reasons, this goal could have been avoided. An errant pass is no anomaly, and in general, the Union will want to show better defensive wherewithal here.

Glesnes sitting back and attempting to contain two attackers as Colorado ripped forward in a 3 v. 2, gave Colorado full purchase to their numbers advantage in attack. Had he stepped up to meet the ball carrier, and Makhanya followed the runner closest to him, it would have neutralized the Colorado number advantage. With the left-most Colorado attacker running into an offside position, Makhanya sinking in to mark Cole Bassett, Glesnes could have forced Navarro into a decision sooner than he wanted to make one.

At any rate, as the Union’s outside backs would look to create width in possession further up the field, the tens and strikers flowed to space nicely – showing up as outlets in the half spaces for the deeper lying Union players to play directly into. Bruno Damiani and Quinn Sullivan especially exhibited strong movement and ability to find gaps in between the lines, receiving passes and turning to further progress play.

“I think even in the first half you saw a lot of progressive passes between the lines,” Carnell explained. “Quinn was finding some great spaces and Indy was finding some – Bruno was holding up the play excellently and turning the next guy.”

With the front four checking back in between Colorado’s lines to show in space as a target, they would pull Colorado’s back four off their mark. In fact, many of the Union’s chances came from strikers pulling defenders out, creating space in behind for a diagonal run from one of the tens or sixes.

This Jovan Lukic chance exhibits just that, as Baribo’s target play pulls a center back out of position, and Lukic is able to find the space in behind. A nice find by Mikael Uhre makes this chance possible.

Uhre the super-sub

The other headliner was, of course, Mikael Uhre playing the hero as a substitute.

This is not the first time this season the Union have relied on the big Dane for some late game heroics. Some may remember the game north of the border in Montreal where Uhre’s late goal earned the Union three points on the road.

His speed and verticality in play style were components of what opened up the game for Philadelphia in the second half, especially on his second goal. His first goal, however, demonstrates just how far the striker has come in his time with the club.

Uhre checking back as an outlet, one-touching it into the path of Indiana Vassilev, and then remaining with the play without crowding space – shows the hunger and confidence the striker has played with in 2025. His command, patience, and versatility have been on display at times this season, but all three of those are exemplified in this passage of play and capped off with the cool finish he kissed off the post.

This goal had shades of Julian Carranza etched into it. The confidence, the finish – both characteristics of the, now, Feyenoord man that the Union heavily relied on.

His second goal was on the more “vintage-Uhre” end of the spectrum. Sal Olivas pressure lead to an errant Colorado pass. Ale Bedoya’s volleyed pass in behind found a scampering Uhre in transition. His couple of touches put him in a position to lace a shot on target, and his low blistering effort caught Zach Steffen off-guard – caroming off the shot-stopper’s leg and in.

“He was due, but he never dropped his head,” said Carnell of Uhre. “I think you can see the way he’s trending right now.”

Looking forward

The Union, yet again, find themselves atop the table. Across what has been a fairly staccato schedule in June and July, the Union have grasped 15 of the 24 available to them in that span. Their resilience in winning keeps them at the top of a supporters shield race where 1st and 7th are separated by just six points.

Now the Union head into a period where the majority of clubs vying for poll position are also playing in an additional competition – Leagues Cup. The Union do have their postponed NYRB US Open Cup game on August 13^th. However, aside from the maximum three additional USOC games this would present Philly, the Union are primed for a Cup run with hot play down the stretch.

No time for reflection though. Heading into a brief respite with a Sister-city friendly next Saturday, reflection on the already successful season the Union have had isn’t in Carnell’s plans for the couple days off.

“There is a time and place for reflection. Now is not the time and the place,” said Carnell. “Right now we’re looking forward.”