Game Thread: Philadelphia Union 0 Kansas City 0, Final

Game Updates

90+5′- Free kick for the Union after KC’s Walter earns a yellow card for a hard tackle. On the restart Bedoya sends it forward and that would end the game.

90+1′- We will have at least 4 minutes of stoppage time here. Bedoya also finally gets unmarked and crosses a ball into the penalty area, where Torres takes a shot, and it goes way wide of the net.

87′- The free kick was sent directly into a Union player, who could clear it out of danger.

86′- Curtin makes a change here, bringing on Mbaizo for Harriel. KC also gets a free kick outside the penalty area after Real commits a foul.

85′- Carranza wins the second ball here inside the box with a bicycle kick but it goes wide of the net.

82′- Union has a free kick from 30 yards out. McGlynn stands over it and they pull out a play from the training ground as the service is sent to the edge of the box but the play ends with the U committing a foul.

80′- Carranza is streaking forward and gets the ball on his foot. He tries to chip it up, but it gets deflected off the foot of a KC player and into the hands of the goalkeeper.

79′- Corner kick for the Union here after a great shot from near the top of the box. The service is sent into the box and eventually gets cleared by SKC.

72′ Union makes their second change bringing Quinn for Uhre. Also happening during this minute, Martinez earned a yellow card for a guess grabbing the side of a Sporting KC player.

69′ Save by Blake. This was yet another long shot from Zusi, but unlike the other ones, this one was on target.

63′- A few changes here for both teams. Union brings McGlynn on for Flach. Sporting KC makes their second change of the night, bringing on Shelton and Pulido. The pair replaced Russell and Agada.

61′- Russell fires a shot on the goal that Blake handles.

55′- Union, with their first corner kick, gets cleared by KC. The second chance ball is blocked as well. Their attack ends with a hard challenge foul by Gazdag.

53′- An excellent attacking possession for the Union here. They kept trying to get the ball into the penalty area from the left side but couldn’t find the right combination. So they tried to switch it over to the right side, but a misread by Bedoya turned it over.

50′- Espinoza is down after contact from Elliott’s boot underside.

46′- Second half gets underway, with KC kicking it off.

Half Time Stats

Philadelphia Union
Shots – 4
Shots on Goal – 0
Possession – 47.6%
Fouls -9
Yellow Cards – 2 (Harriel, Gazdag)

Inter Miami CF
Shots – 9
Shots on Goal – 2
Possession – 52.4%
Fouls – 5
Yellow Cards – 1 (Agada)

45+2- The ref has blown the whistle for half, and Curtin does not have a delightful look on his face. I think one thing missing from these broadcasts, now that we have been through six, is the interview with the coaches. It was always nice getting Curtin’s thoughts on the half.

45+1- We will have at least 2 minutes of stoppage time and right when we enter stoppage, Martinez goes through Espinoza and is called for a foul.

40′ – A yellow card is shown for Gazdag after Espinoza falls outside the box. Sure, Gazdag tugs at the shoulder, but that is a soft yellow card. The free kick ended up being a goal kick for Philly. So all is well on that end.

37′- Corner for KC here from the far flag. The ball is played into the center of the box, and a diving KC player can connect their head with the ball, but Blake can handle the threat easily.

34′ – KC is making a change hereafter Radoja goes down with a muscle injury. Peter Vermes brings on Espinoza for the injured Radoja.

31′- Russell turns and runs into the U’s Real and earns a free kick. His kick again finds a Union player, who clears it from harm’s way.

28′- Zusi with a rocket that goes wide of the net.

25′- Free kick from near the bottom of the center circle in the attacking side for the Union. The kick is driven forward, and Harriel gets a head on it and turns onto the net. However, KC’s goalkeeper gets to it first and stops the threat.

22′- The free-kick got deflected and turned into a corner kick. That kick was not much of a threat.

21′- KC now has a good free-kick opportunity from a few yards above the 18-yard box. This happened because Martinez led into a 50/50 ball with his shoulder.

18′- A yellow card is now shown to Harriel for a handball.

16′- KC’s Agada is shown a yellow card as Harriel is on the wrong side of a hard tackle.

14′- The corner kick from the far flag is sent toward the near post, but a jumping Blake grabs the ball cleanly. At the same time, a KC player is grabbing Blake as he goes down to the ground. Pleasantry exchange between the two as Blake gets up.

13′- Another KC corner from the near flag and another ball sent towards the back post. It eventually got cleared by the Union. But KC was able to get the ball back and attack down the left, and the ball went out of play for another corner.

7′- An attack down the right side by the U, earns a few shots but ultimately ends with the Union committing a foul outside the box.

2′- KC earns the first corner kick of the game. Russel from the near flag sends it towards the back post. After the ball bangs off a few players, there is a bicycle kick from outside the 18 that goes wide of the net.

1′- After a one-hour delay, the game is finally underway. The boys are in the dark blues and are defending the river end here in the first.

The game is currently in a weather delay due to lightning near Subaru Park. Up here in Abington, I can tell you the past 5 minutes went from storm clouds to intense rain.

#PHIvSKC has entered a weather delay due to ⛈️ near Subaru Park.

Fans inside should clear the seating bowl and seek shelter on the concourse.

Fans who have yet to enter the stadium are advised to shelter in their vehicle. pic.twitter.com/iA3E8vAWIy

— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) April 1, 2023

Starting Lineups

The Brick Wall Blake returns from injury and is back in the lineup.

Starting XI vs @SportingKC is locked in 🔒

📝👉 https://t.co/i0CAln27Cv#StartingXI | #PHIvSKC | #DOOP | @MLS pic.twitter.com/tpG4rMv1Sn

— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) April 1, 2023

The other side.

The squad for #PHIvSKC#SportingKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/vzEL1g6syQ

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 1, 2023

Availability Report

Notes

The Union are evenly matched with SKC, with both teams having won six games each and five draws in their all-time series. However, in their previous encounter, which took place back in 2020 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex for the MLS is Back Quarterfinals, the Union dominated and secured a 3-1 victory over Kansas City. Jamiro Monteiro kicked off the scoring for the Union in the 24th minute, and Sergio Santos sealed the deal with a first-half brace, scoring in the 26th and 39th minute.

The Union will be looking to replicate their success from their last meeting with SKC, especially as they have proven to be formidable opponents at home. They have only lost once in their last four home games against Sporting Kansas City.

How to Watch

Where: Subaru Park, Chester Pa.
Time: Kickoff, 7:39 p.m.
Live Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
English Broadcast: Ed Cohen, Warren Barton
Spanish Broadcast: Raul Guzman, Sonny Guadarrama
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic HD2 or the 97.5 The Fanatic App (Dave Leno and Sebastien LeToux)
How to listen to home radio broadcast on MLS Season Pass

Officials

Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Brian Poeschel
Fourth Official: Marcos DeOliveira
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez, Chantal Boudreau