Chester, PA
September 19, 2021
The Philadelphia Union needed to win this Sunday to rekindle its hope for a playoff spot. Orlando City SC was in third in the MLS East, while the Union had fallen to ninth. The Union did just that by beating Orlando with a score of 3-1.
Philadelphia’s scoring responsibility initially fell onto Kai Wagner, who does more than his share on defense. Wagner (assisted by Cory Burke) shot a bouncer in the 37th minute that was aided by an Orlando deflection.
Orlando scored a short-lived equalizer at the 57th minute when Ruan (assisted by Mauricio Pereyra) launched a slow looping header headed the ball from the right past Union keeper Andre Blake to the bottom left 0f he goal.
A mere four minutes later, however, Jamiro Monteiro passed to Kacper Przybylko, who was free and located at the center front of the Orlando goal. Przybylko easily scored. Union fans were thrilled to see Kacpar shake his goal-scoring drought.
Sergio Santos always provides a speedy spark to Philadelphia’s offense and he was subbed into the game at the 65th minute. Santos received a long pass into the right near the Orlando goal and Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese took aim at Santos’s ankles and brought Santos down. Gallese was shown yellow for the play.
That play was switched to the left side in the box and this time it was Antonio Carlos who took Santos down. Carlos, however, was shown red. Przybylko converted the PK and the score held at 3-1.
Orlando fell to fourth and the Union rose to seventh in the MLS East standings.
Przybylko gets around Orlando’s Raul Aguilera, Jr.
Olivier Mbaizo evades the hold back by Orlando’s Junior Urso.
Philadelphia’s Jamiro Monteiro skirts between Orlando’s Rodrigo Schlegel and Robin Jansson.
Philadelphia’s Mbaizo waits for the ball to drop.
Philadelphia’s Cory Burke preparing to pass past Orlando’s Aguilera.
The Union’s Jack Elliott heading the ball in traffic.
Philadelphia’s Wagner purses the ball while being pulled back by Orlando’s Ruan.
Orlando’s Junior Urso moving toward goal.
Santos was pulled down by Orlando’s Carlos in front of the Orlando goal.
Carlos unsuccessfully pleads his case about the red call.
Przybylko successfully took the PK from Carlos’s take down of Santos.
Orlando’s Daryl Dike subbed in at the 67th minute, shown here trying here to keep the ball in bounds.
More photos of the game can be seen at https://prostamerika.smugmug.com/MLS-Photos/Philadelphia/Philadelphia-Union-2021-Season/Philadelphia-Union-2021/
