Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union hosted New York City FC at Subaru Park in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third time ever, and a 41st-minute counterattack goal from Maxi Moralez was the difference between the sides. New York City FC will travel to face Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference Final.

First Half

Jakob Glesnes was dispossessed outside of the Union’s 18-yard box in the fifteenth minute by Maxi Morales, whose shot reverberated off the post. What was a likely goal for the visitors was taken the other way, but Indiana Vassilev’s cross, intended for Tai Baribo in the center, was mis-hit and went out for a goal kick. 

New York City FC opened the scoring in the 27th minute after Olwethy Makhanya was beaten on the dribble down the left side. Maxi Moralez made the run through the middle and was through on goal against Andre Blake. His shot was well-placed into the side netting. Both sides had their share of chances leading up to the moment, but the visitors were first to capitalize and celebrated in front of nearly two whole sections of travelling fans. 

Hannes Wolf was the first to see mustard after kicking Milan Iloski in the chest on the far sideline. On the recycled free kick, there looked to be a potential handball in the box for New York. Play continued so VAR could have time to review the incident, and Baribo collided with a New York center back, then was shown a yellow card of his own. Guido Gonzales held the restart for a full VAR review, which resulted in play on. 

Maxi Moralez was next to get a yellow for a 50/50 challenge on Danley Jean Jacques.

Nate Harriel worked to retrieve an overcooked cross from Kai Wagner and managed to win his side a corner. Wagner made his way across, and on the delivery connected with Olwethu Makhanya on the back post, whose header went straight down, then bounced into the safe hands of Matt Freese.

Andre Blake made a heroic save in the 38th minute to deny another strong attack from the visitors. 

Danley Jean Jacques set the ball on a tee for Tai Baribo in the 41st, but Baribo’s one-time shot rolled just wide of the opposite post. 

The fourth official indicated five minutes of added time. The Union went back to the locker room down at the break. 

Second Half

Neither side made changes at the interval. 

New York City’s Nicolas Fernandez caught Andre Blake off of his line in the 55th minute and played a low, driven ball that looked to be going in, but Blake sprinted all the way to his post to swat it away at the last second. Blake seemed to have tweaked something in the process and went down needing treatment to his right leg. The heroic act was unfortunately his final act of the night.

Andrew Rick entered for Blake, and Frankie Westfield and Mikeal Uhre came in for Jovan Lukic and Tai Baribo. Westfield’s entrance slid Vassilev into the holding midfield. 

Rick made his first stop on a play that was ultimately offside minutes after entering. 

With a 1-0 lead, New York intended to waste every possible second they could. 

Indiana Vassilev made way for Jesus Bueno in the 69th minute.

Both Danley Jean Jacques and Bruno Damiani had the opportunity to level the match on the same Frankie Westfield cross, but failed to connect with the ball. 

Westfield got on the end of a Milan Iloski cross on the next attack, but his shot was kept out on the line by Matt Freese. 

Nate Harriel was then brought down in the box, which could have been a penalty, but Guido Gonzalez did not call it. Matt Freese stalled the ensuing goal kick long enough to get a yellow card. 

Andrew Rick had his second save of the night to stop Maxi Moralez 1v1. 

Cavan Sullivan, fresh off his U-17 World Cup trip, came into the match for Danley Jean Jacques in the 83rd minute. He immediately got involved and played a ball into the middle for Bruno Damiani, but the Uruguayan’s shot was blocked for a corner. 

Raul Gustavo became the second NYFC player to see yellow for time wasting in the 86th minute.

Westfield got on the end of another cross a minute later, but his shot went over the bar and into the River End.

With two New York players down at midfield, Milan Iloski took his chances with a long-ranged shot, but a fully outstretched Matt Freese kept it out.

The Philadelphia Union’s 2025 season concluded after six minutes of added time and change.  

 Three Points:

•  Andre Blake was instrumental in keeping the match at 1-0 until his injury.
• Olwethu Makhanya was confident on both sides of the ball, but his rapid decision-making still has room to improve. That will come as he ages and continues to adjust to first-team football.
• Substitutes Frankie Westfield, Cavan Sullivan, and Mikeal Uhre brought life into the attack, but their efforts were not enough to get one back.

Lineups

Philadelphia

Andre Blake (Andrew Rick-60’) ; Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, Nathan Harriel, Jovan Lukic (Frankie Westfield-60’) , Danley Jean Jacques (Cavan Sullivan- 83’), Indiana Vassilev (Jesus Bueno- 69’), Milan Iloski, Tai Baribo (Mikeal Uhre-60’), Bruno Damiani

Unused subs: Alejandro Bedoya, Ben Bender, Jeremy Raffaello.

New York City

Matt Freese; Thiago Martins, Kevin O’Toole, Tayvon Gray, Agustin Ojeda, Raul Gustavo, Maxi Moralez (Strahinja Tanasijevic- 87’), Hannes Wolf (Mitja Ilenic- 78’), Jonathan Shore, Justin Haak, Nicolas Fernandez (Julian Fernandez- 90+’)

Unused Subs: Tomas Romero; Nico Cavallo, Max Murray, Maximo Carrizo, Sebestiano Musu, Seymour Reid

Scoring Summary:

NYC: Moralez– 27’

Discipline Summary:

NYC: Wolf– 31’

PHI: Baribo- 33’

NYC: Moralez- 35’

NYC: Freese- 77’

NYC: Gustavo- 86’

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr