Daniel Gazdag key to recent success for Philadelphia Union

Six wins in the last seven games. Nineteen points in that same timeframe. Three wins in a row. If the Philadelphia Union isn’t the hottest team in Major League Soccer, it’s hard to say who is.

The Union has put the league on notice in the past several weeks, as they’ve risen from 2-4-1 to 8-4-3. Behind that success stands the successes of the group’s individual players, from Andre Blake to Chris Donovan. But it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the impact of Daniel Gazdag.

Gazdag, like most of the Union, felt underwhelming in MLS play to start the season. He was scoring goals, but each one came from a penalty shot. Usually, drawn by a teammate.

The midfielder still has just one goal (officially) from the run of play this season, which came as a beautiful strike against the New England Revolution on May 20.

The Hungarian Harden strikes!#DOOP
pic.twitter.com/MVOahUG9Nl

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) May 21, 2023

If you believe Major League Soccer, Gazdag didn’t score against Charlotte FC on Wednesday, when his header was ruled an own goal. That same goal gave the Union three important points as they continue to push for the lead in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Leagues Cup. See for yourself if he didn’t score.

Own goal schmown goal. Just give it to him.#DOOP pic.twitter.com/9CS2A2gev4

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) June 1, 2023

But as the Union has gotten better, so has Gazdag. The goals are starting to come for the midfielder, and he’s seen an uptick in his quality of play. While he was often invisible on the pitch to start the MLS campaign, he’s now the key orchestrator of the Union’s attack. Whether he’s playing as a midfielder or drifting further up the field to play as another No. 9, Gazdag has been producing. As of the aftermath of the Charlotte game, he has eight goals and four assists in MLS action. Gazdag isn’t challenging for the golden boot, but he is certainly producing.

Most recently, Gazdag’s been able to pop up in moments when the Union needs him most. He isn’t always the most visible member of the attack – those roles still belong to Julian Carranza and Mikael Uhre. Still, he’s available when the Union needs him most, with a quick touch at the top of the penalty area or a run to the far post.

“He has a knack, a real knack for popping up at the right place at the right time, and he gets lots of goals that way,” Jim Curtin said after the Union’s win over Charlotte. “He’s a special player.”

Gazdag’s goal, Curtin said — likely not knowing that it had been ruled an own goal — was typical of his play. He snuck past a defense that didn’t track him well, found himself open at the back post, and placed his shot right where it needed to go. Own goal or not.

The Union isn’t playing its best soccer yet, Curtin believes. Whether or not that’s “coach speak,” it’s a believable statement. The same idea applies to Gazdag.

Philadelphia has eight more matches in MLS play before the league takes a break for Leagues Cup. They may turn out to be the most important games of the season, and Gazdag will need to play a role in all of them.

“We know we can get better,” Curtin said. “I think this team, as everyone gets back and everybody gets fit, will only continue to improve. We’ll continue to work hard to try to move up in the Eastern Conference. It’s a good time to try to separate.”