March 11, 2023
Chester, PA
It wasn’t pretty by a long shot, but Saturday evening ended with the Philadelphia Union’s 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire FC. Chicago was winning the possession game in the first half at 56%. In fact, about mid-way through the first half, Chicago’s Kei Kamara put the ball in the back of the net, but was called offsides.
More distressing to Philadelphia fans was a first half injury to 2022 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake, which required him to leave the match at the 33rd minute, but not before saving a well-placed header from the former Union player, Kacper Przybylko, to the bottom right corner of goal.
Another former Union player, Fabian Herbers, helped out Philadelphia’s cause by receiving a second yellow at the 50th minute. Kamara followed Herbers with a double yellow of his own later in the match.
In the last two home games, Joaquín Torres has provided the spark to the Union, and on Saturday, he scored the game winner off of his left foot, just to the right of the Chicago keeper, Chris Brady. José Martínez scored the assist.
Photos of the match appear below:
Chicago’s Xherdan Shaqiri with Jack Elliott defending.
Chicago’s Kamara’s was off sides on his shot on goal.
Philadelphia’s José Martínez passing in from of the box.
The Union’s Julián Carranza weaves his way through defenders.
The new super-sub, Joaquín Torres moving past Chicago’s Rafael Czichos
Philadelphia’s Dániel Gazdag threads the needle between Carlos Teran and Javier Casas.
Torres and Kai Wagner celebrating Torres’s goal in the 90th minute.
