March 5, 2024
Chester, PA
Philadelphia’s Tuesday evening game against ended in a scoreless draw against CF Pachuca (MEX). It was not the ending Union fans were hoping for, but acceptable given that Philadelphia was short-handed for the game. Jack Elliott was lost to a red card, Damion Lowe to yellow card accumulation, and Julian Carranza was out due to a thigh injury. Undoubtedly, the entire team suffered from fatigue, having played five games in 15 days. The best roster news on the night was the availability of Philadelphia keeper, Andre Blake, who had missed two games with an adductor strain.
Statistically, Pachuca outshot the Union by a wide margin — 18 for Pachuca and 5 for Philadelphia, but most of Pachuca’s 18 shots were well off target. The shots on goal comparison featured parity, with both sides chalking up 3 shots.
Philadelphia had its chances to score in the first half when Pachuca keeper Carlos Moreno shut down Philadelphia’s Mikael Uhre on two occasions. Pachuca came close to a penalty kick in the first half when Harriel was called for a handball, but VAR rescued the team by identifying a prior Pachuca handball on the lead-up to the call. Midway through the second half, Dániel Gazdag had a wide open look, but chipped the ball over the Pachuca crossbar.
Philadelphia’s clean sheet means that Pachuca was unable to secure an away goal, but the next leg of the pairing on Pachuca’s home turf will be challenging .
Photographs of the game appear below:
Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner pedals past Pachuca’s Miguel Rodriguez.
Nathan Harriel has shown remarkable progress this year, stepping into the void of center back for the game.
Philadelphia’s homegrown Quinn Sullivan has elevated his game, and is playing with speed and finesse.
Philadelphia’s José Martínez teamed up with Jack McGlynn to deny Pachuca’s Salomón Rondón.
Martínez holding back Rondón by himself.
Philadelphia’s Mbaizo keeping up with Pachuca’s Oussama
Philadelphia Union
