Chester, PA
September 16, 2023
Saturday evening’s game was an important one. Cincinnati was and remains well-settled in first place in the MLS East and seems destined for the 2023 MLS Supporters Shield. Philadelphia needed to ascend the table to secure a home playoff spot.
The first half belonged to Philadelphia, at least from a scoring perspective. There was a time when José Martínez’s defender-style shots on goal were high or wide of the mark. That can no longer be said, as on Saturday the MLS all-star scored his third goal of the season off of a pass from Jack McGlynn in the 23rd minute, giving Philadelphia an early 1-0 lead.
Dániel Gazdag followed up by scoring Philadelphia’s second goal at the 37th minute by PK, after having been tripped up by Cincinnati’s goal keeper, Roman Celentano.
The second half of the game showed some defensive missteps by Philadelphia. At the 49th minute Aaron Boupendza shot at close range off of a flat pass from Yuya Kubo. Philadelphia was unable to hold onto the lead when in the 76th minute Brandon Vazquez scored.
Cincinnati’s quick connecting plays were tempered when in the 83rd minute Yerson Mosquera received a second yellow card. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Jack Elliott also was shown red after a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. The Union will be without Elliott in the mid-week game against Charlotte FC.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Pictures of the game appear below:
The shot that earned José Martínez’s his third goal of the season.
Martínez celebrating with the Supporters sections.
Gazdag converts his PK for a 2-0 lead after being clipped by Celentano.
Philadelphia’s Julián Carranza leaning on the shoulders of Cincinnati’s Yerson Mosquera.
Philadelphia’s Nathan Harriel navigating around Cincinnati’s Álvaro Barreal.
Philadelphia’s Jesús Bueno mlseading the ball.
Another aerial duel between Carranza and Mosquera.
