Chester, PA
June 26, 2022
The Philadelphia Union had plenty to prove in its Sunday evening match against NYCFC. Philadelphia just couldn’t seem to move past its string of draws. NYCFC had pulled into first in the MLS East, with the Union below in second. And then there was that 2021 playoff match against NYCFC that MLS wouldn’t postpone when the bulk of the Union’s starters tested COVID positive. While the Union took care of business in March, beating NYCFC 2-0 in New York, NYCFC had not been yet in form. For Union fans at least, more work still needed to be done.
And what a wild ride Sunday evening’s game was. The game included a full house, an early goal, a PK on a handball in the box, an offside call on a goal that was overturned by VAR, and even the Union trainer being shown a red card for his interactions with the players.
The first half was terrific soccer for the Union. Coming off a nagging quad injury, Mikael Uhre scored in the 9th minute off of a cross from Alejandro Bedoya. Although the first half possession stats were virtually even, Philadelphia seemed in control the game.
The second half saw more of the classic NYCFC cut and pass game. Still Philadelphia’s 1-0 lead continued to hold until the 87th minute, when an NYCFC pass was kicked into Kai Wagner’s arm in the box, resulting in a penalty shot. Valentín Castellanos converted the penalty to the bottom left after a set of stutter steps that sent Andre Blake the wrong way.
So there is was, it looked like the Union was on its way to yet another draw. But in the 6th minute of stoppage time, Philadelphia was attacking the NYCFC goal. The ball bounced out of the box to a wide open José Martínez, who had been terrific all game long. Although Martínez has been know to shoot high, this time he kept the ball low. The ball deflected off of Cory Burke’s left foot into the goal. In this game, no opportunity for controversy would be left unturned, so the linesman called Burke offside. The field ruling was overruled by VAR.
After 12 minutes of stoppage play, the game finally was called with the Union winning 2-1.
Photos of the game appear below:
Uhre scoring the first goal in the 9th minute
NYCFC’s Santiago Rodríguez alone with the ball.
The Union’s Uhre covered by Maxime Chanot’s hand on neck.
Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott outrunning NYCFC’s Castellanos.
NYCFC’s Maximiliano Moralez disputing an offside call against NYCFC, with Blake taking the kick.
Philadelphia’s José Martínez was really good on the night, seen here defending Castellanos.
NYCFC’s Alexander Callens seemed to neutralize the Union’s Julián Carranza.
After Carranza went down with a head injury, Callens had sharp words with the Union’s trainer.
Glesnes separating the trainer by means of bear hug.
Philadelphia’s Alejandro Bedoya getting past NYCFC’s Malte Amundsen.
After scoring, Burke explains to the linesman that he was not offside.
And VAR agreed with Burke, allowing the goal.
