September 10, 2022
Chester, PA
The contrast between the beginning of the season and Philadelphia’s form of late is striking. Early in the year, it seemed like the Union could not get past an endless stream of draws. Now, the Union’s attacking machine feels unstoppable as the team racks up multiple goal wins, particularly at home. This time it was a decisive win over Orlando City SC, 5-1, all the better to have occurred on Kick Childhood Cancer Night at Subaru Park.
The first Philadelphia goal came at the 39th minute off of a cross by Olivier Mbaizo, but it deflected off Orlando’s João Moutinho and lofted over the head of Orlando’s keeper, Mason Stajduhar.
Just five minutes later, Mikael Uhre sprinted toward goal after a through pass from Dániel Gazdag. Uhre shot slightly to the left of Stajduhar and the ball grazed Stajduhar’s leg. But the velocity of the shot muscled it past Orlando’s keeper to set the score at 2-0 at halftime.
In the 52nd minute, Uhre drew a foul in the box, which was upheld after a VAR review. Gazdag successfully converted the penalty shot for his 19th goal on the season.
Eleven minutes later, Kai Wagner crossed the ball and Philadelphia’s captain Alejandro Bedoya dove out of no where for an outstanding header into the bottom left corner of Orlando’s goal.
Orlando’s lone goal occurred in the 75th minute with Andrés Perea’s shot to the left of Philadelphia’s keeper, Andre Blake.
Philadelphia’s final goal was in the 87th minute after a corner with Wagner crossing the ball and Jack Elliott connecting with the cross. With two assists on the night, Wagner now totals 15 assists on the season.
Photographs of the game appear below:
Philadelphia’s Jack Elliot keeping time with Orlando’s Benji Michel.
José Martínez holding back Orlando’s Nicholas Gioacchini.
The second goal of the night, Uhre shooting past Stajduhar following a nice through pass from Gazdag.
After calling a penalty on the keeper Stajduhar, the players react to the VAR call.
VAR upheld the penalty call, and Gazdag converted the PK for Philadelphia.
That goal was Gazdag’s 19th on the season.
Bedoya landed hard after his running header goal, and he left the match.
The passing Boy Wonder Jack McGlynn came in for Bedoya and continued his developmental progress.
Gazdag’s view of Philadelphia’s season so far.
