Photo: Ron Soliman

A month that certainly tested the resolve of the entire group also just so happened to be the most successful month of soccer in Union history.

Over nine matches in just twenty-eight days, the team earned fifteen points in MLS play, while also advancing two rounds in the Open Cup. In that span, the Union ultimately extended an unbeaten streak of two matches heading into the month, to a run of eleven matches without a loss.

Let’s revel in it and relive some key moments from each match.

Heading north, stealing three

The Union opened up their May slate heading north of the border to Montreal. At that point, Montreal was winless through their first ten MLS matches, but were coming off a win in the Canadian Championship vs. Toronto FC.

Philly went ahead early, with Indiana Vassilev opening his Union account on a sensational weak-footed blast in the fourth minute.

After a Montreal equalizer and 80+ minutes of slog, Jovan Lukic won a tackle in the Montreal half and slid a cheeky through ball to substitute Mikael Uhre.

This pass and finish was one of only two shining moments to speak of throughout the drudgery that saw chance after chance fizzle out before they would materialize.

Return to US Open Cup

Philly returned home to Subaru Park with three points in tow and their sights set on the Round of 32 US Open Cup match just four days later.

Even though the Union pulled ahead early via the head of Bedoya, Indy battled hard and equalized just after half-time. The 1-1 scoreline held for 80+ minutes, as the USL side went the distance with the Union – lasting 120 minutes into PKs.

The Union nailed all five of their penalties, and Andrew Rick came up the hero when he parried Indy’s third penalty wide – a shot of confidence to the 19 year old shot-stopper.

With Andre Blake picking up an injury sometime between the Montreal and USOC matches, the Union would need to lean on the young keeper with some of the season’s biggest matches ahead.

Gazdag’s return

In what was pegged to be the litmus test of the season, the battle for first place in the East with Columbus Crew took hold at Subaru Park the following Saturday. It also marked Daniel Gazdag’s return to Philadelphia, as the Hungarian was traded in a cash deal just one month prior to the match.

Had the Union won the match, the moment to sum it all up may just have been Jakob Glesnes winning a picture perfect tackle on his former teammate in a 1v1 battle just as Columbus were looking to break.

The Union went up just before halftime via Tai Baribo, but Columbus’s Max Arfsten equalized in the 61^st minute. With the momentum swinging against them, the Union lulled Columbus into a false sense of security and hit the Crew mightily in transition.

Westfield Golazo – Commentators Calls
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19 year-old Frankie Westfield bombed forward and finished off a chance with authority in the 64^th minute – going top bins on Patrick Schulte for his first Union goal.

Unfortunately, that goal wouldn’t be enough to see out the game with Columbus’s Sean Zawadski bringing things level just before the final whistle.

A match that had all the hallmarks of the Union’s first signature win of the season, first place in the East was held by neither Columbus nor Philly after the match. The tie allowed FC Cincinnati to jump leapfrog both into first place with their win on the same day.

Slow start but big finish

As the LA Galaxy came to town the following Wednesday, the Union had their sights set on their 4^th match in eleven days. Carnell rolled out the same starting eleven that showed out during the Columbus match just four days prior. And the tired legs were apparent.

By the 37^th minute, the Union found themselves buried in a two-goal hole.

A disappointing first forty-five minutes and Marco Reus running the show through the middle in a false 9 – Carnell challenged his players out of half-time to turn proceedings around within the first ten minutes of the second half.

In response, two goals in four minutes from the Union brought things level by the 50^th minute. With the Union finding its form, the side dominated the second frame but it took 40 minutes before the Tai Baribo found the breakthrough in electric fashion

Leaving the Benz with 3 points

Coming off a midweek thriller, the Union didn’t have much time to rest on their laurels. The side hopped on a flight down to Atlanta finish off their season series vs. Atlanta Utd.

Baribo, yet again, played the hero, coming on in the 46^th minute and notching the game winner from the penalty spot.

It was a tight physical match throughout, with Carnell showing three different formations in the match. Carnell opted for a 3-4-3 to start, with Damiani, Uhre, and Chris Donovan leading the charge in a front three.

In the 60^th minute, Danley and Sullivan were brought on for Damiani and Bedoya, and things shifted back to the 4-2-2-2 heavily used this season. Finally, to see out the one goal lead, Glesnes was brought on for Mikael Uhre, and the team went to a 4-2-3-1 to successfully ride out the clock.

Keystone state showdown

That following Wednesday, the Union returned to the Soob for their US Open Cup Round of 16 date with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. This match vs. the USL side was the first ever matchup between the two PA Clubs.

Bruno Damiani was deployed up top by himself in a 4-2-3-1, which appeared to be a much more comfortable role for the Uruguayan. Vassilev and the Sullivan brethren lined up just behind Damiani, forming a strong front four that contributed two of the sides four goals.

With Damiani playing more of a target role, Quinn, Cavan, and Indy connected through the middle on multiple occasions to build up some aesthetically pleasing soccer.

Cavan showed the “beyond his years” vision that many have marked of him throughout the match, but especially on this pass around the corner to a hustling Damiani.

Yet, it was this goal that most definitively exhibited the quality differential between the Clubs. Quinn’s ill-advised square ball through the middle forced Bueno into a tough situation that he handled expertly to spring the attack.

Against better competition, Quinn would never get away with that type of pass.

Messi FC

Next came the vaunted matchup vs Inter Miami FC – an opponent the Union and its suporters have recurring nightmares about. Those nightmares will not have been quelled after this match either.

The contest couldn’t have started any better for the Union, as Quinn scored on an absolute golazo ear-marked for right panel of the net blowing the roof off the place.

After Baribo extended the lead to two twice, the party at the Soob was thwarted by Messi and his cronies – bagging two late goals to spoil the Union’s hopes at ending the bad dreams, once and for all.

Another comeback

Heads held high, the Union traveled north of the border again, this time for a midweek quarrel with Toronto FC – a setting the Union hadn’t been victorious in since 2019.

That streak looked like it may hold as Toronto went ahead in the 75^th minute. But the Union didn’t lick their wounds for long, as the strong character of the side was put on full display.

Nate Harriel got one back just before the clock struck 90 minutes. As the Union kept knocking, it was Kai Wagner to the rescue who finished off a deflected blast that had Dave Leno’s voice audible from across Lake Ontario.

Hear it again – Kai Wagner’s Game Winner
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From north to south

To cap off a jam-packed month, a tired Philly squad headed down to Dallas, where they extended their unbeaten streak to eleven matches.

Dallas went down a man in the first half, but even with the Union up a man controlling the match, the squad could not find a breakthrough. Bruno Damiani found himself opportunities where he probably should have notched a goal, but Dallas went into a low block defensively that the Union struggled to break down.

Even in a goalless draw with a dozen missed opportunities, a point to take home and a four-point gap with the Union atop the East are more than enough to keep the morale high heading into a brief respite.