Preview
The Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Philadelphia Union are back! This season will have a very different look and feel for the Union. The Union has a new Head Coach in Bradley Carnell. The Union also has multiple new names on the squad like Ian Glavinovich, Jovan Lukic, Bruno Damiani, and Indiana Vassilev. Orlando City would also have some new additions to their strong 2024 squad. Croatian, Marco Pasalic would make his MLS debut for Orlando. In this one, Philadelphia Union dominated Orlando City in the season opener 4-2.
Knocking Off The Rust
Before the Union got things rolling offensively, they had some rust to knock off. Expectingly with some new teammates, there would be some chemistry issues to work out. Those issues would show themselves when Orlando City opened up the scoring in just the 8th minute of this one. Orlando’s Ojeda’s pass found Pasalic who found his way into the box and blasted a shot past Andre Blake. Orlando was picking right back up where they left off in 2024.
The Boys in Blue didn’t let the early goal get to them. in the 23rd minute, Tai Baribo leveled the match up at 1 a piece. Kai Wagner found Baribo in the box after an Orlando City deflection. Baribo knew exactly what to do with the pass and snuck it by Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to make it 1-1. It would remain 1-1 headed into halftime.
2nd Half Goals
It didn’t take long for the Union to get the scoring going in the 2nd half. The Boys in Blue would jump ahead when Quinn Sullivan sent in a magnificent cross into the box that Gazdag would track down and get a shot past Gallese. The Union had a 2-1 lead, but it would extend to 3-1 within moments. Orlando’s Rodrigo Schlegal lost possession after a bad touch and Mikeal Uhre would make them pay. From just outside of the box Uhre would blast a shot for goal to make it 3-1 for the Union.
The Union dominated Orlando City up to this point and they weren’t done. Frankie Westfield got his first MLS start in this one. Westfield in his debut played 88 minutes and had the assist that made it 4-1 Union. Westfield found Baribo streaking in front of the net. Baribo did what he does best and put it in the back of the net for his season opening brace.
Pasalic also got the brace as he got one past Blake in the 79th minute to make it 4-2. Orlando City wouldn’t get any closer as they fell at home in the season opener for the first time in franchise history.
After the match Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell was asked what statement the Union made with this win. His answer was a simple, “3 points”.
Up Next
The Philadelphia Union (1-0-0, 3 pts) will now get the chance to play back home in front of the fans at Subaru Park. Next up is FC Cincinnati (1-0-0, 3 pts) who picked up the win over the Red Bulls 1-0 in their home opener. The Union should have newly acquired Bruno Damiani and Indiana Vasseliv available for the home opener.
