Game Thread: Philadelphia Union 2 at Orlando City SC 2, Final

Game Updates

90+7 ‘ – And after about 90 minutes worth of action in the seven added minutes it all ends tied 1-1. Both teams will share the point in a crazy contest featuring multiple starters out on international duty. It wasn’t the best performance from the Union but nobody will remember that after a historic strike from Jose Martinez.

90+6 ‘ – AND UHRE NEARLY TOPS MARTINEZ’S GOAL! A backheel flick smacks the crossbar and he genuinely can’t believe that didn’t go in, and neither can we.

90+4 ‘ – Orlando nearly strikes back, smacks the crossbar!

90+1 ‘ – JOSE GOT ONE! Finally one of those famed long shots goes in for Martinez, and what a time to score his first goal! As Danny Higginbotham said, Stajduhar might as well not have dove for that one. Absolute rocket of a volley!

86 ‘ – Some atrocious defending from the Union there leads to Orlando’s third goal of the night. Union are appealing the goal as the play started with Jose Martinez being smacked in the face… And it is disallowed! Good call, you typically can’t just smack players out of your way.

83 ‘ – Unfortunately, no Glesnes magic this time as his long-range strike is over the target. Union really starting to run out of time in this one.

74 ‘ – Quinn Sullivan on for the Boys in Blue, and Flach comes out. Harriel also comes on for Mbaizo as well.

73 ‘ – That absolutely should have been it there. Orlando had multiple chances to add a third goal, but Angulo’s shot flies over the bar. Lucky lucky.

64 ‘ – The Cap is back! Joaquin Torres comes off for a returning Alejandro Bedoya!

61 ‘ – So apparently both Carranza and Stajduhar were given yellows after the goal. Sure!

60 ‘ – Um… GOAL UNION! Great ball in by McGlynn that didn’t touch anyone. Goalkeeper was waiting for that touch and reacted too late… BACKUP GOALKEEPERS FOLKS! We have a game folks!

53 ‘ – And now, of course, Orlando City takes a 2-0 lead immediately. More than likely that goal will be McGuire’s second after it deflected off of him and past Bendik. That’s a kick in the pants.

52 ‘ – That’s one that just makes you shake your head. Uhre does well to find space outside, rifles in a cross, and finds Julian Carranza from just a few feet out… and it’s saved. Sigh… So that’s how it feels to be on the other end of an Andre Blake super save.

46 ‘ – We are underway in the second half as the Union looks to bring themselves level early on!

45 ‘ – No added time here as the whistle blows, probably for the better if you’re a Union fan. In all honesty, Philadelphia is lucky to only be down by one heading into the half. It’s really been a tale of two extremely different sides in the final third, with Orlando stringing together crisp passes and the Union unable to connect at all. Jim’s got his work cut out for him this second half.

40 ‘ – A dangerous Orlando chance is called for offsides, I really am not sure that it was though. Once again, the Union just getting sliced down that end. Not good enough on defense.

38 ‘ – Leon Flach gets the second yellow card of the night, and that sequence is just the summary of tonight’s match so far. McGlynn has a good idea to hit Wagner on a run outside the box, but just doesn’t get enough on it and it’s intercepted. Flach is cautioned for a tackle that he has to make to try and stop the Orlando counter. The Union just have not been able to connect on their passes at all in the final third, pretty much the same stuff we saw earlier in the season before the formation change.

28 ‘ – First yellow card of the night folks, and it comes from Olivier Mbaizo.

27 ‘ – Terrific play by Leon Flach to almost set up a goal! Totally fakes out the defender and drives in a cross from the left-hand side that found a strong header from Jack Elliott in the box. Unfortunately, that attempt sails just barely over the crossbar.

24 ‘ – Great job by Elliott there to push upfield, works it down the left-hand side with Wagner who forces a corner. A good ball nearly finds the head of Olivier Mbaizo but is cleared out. Glesnes does well to track back and regain possession for Philadelphia at midfield though.

22 ‘ – Union under some serious pressure here by Orlando, Pereyra is just allowed to waltz down the middle of the field, and slides it to Ojeda on the left side of the box. Good low save to his left by Joe Bendik. Commentators pointing out how much weaker Philadelphia looks in the midfield so far in this contest, especially back under the diamond.

13 ‘ – And just like that, Orlando City takes the lead. Absolute fair play to Orlando there. Ojeda played it forward off of a long ball with an incredible touch. Good hustle from Duncan McGuire there, literally sliding to control the ball past Glesnes then curling a shot past Bendik. 1-0 Orlando early on.

10 ‘ – Clever by Carranza there to earn a foul in a dangerous area right outside of the box for the Union. Wagner elected to hit Jack McGlynn on the edge of the box, but the shot was too soft and deflected off of an Orlando City defender. The union would earn another corner but nothing resulted from it. They’re getting into some good situations but haven’t really threatened quite yet.

7 ‘ – Orlando City gets a free kick in a dangerous situation, but thankfully they decided to chip it harmlessly out of play. How nice of them!

5 ‘ – Nice counterattack there by Philadelphia. He didn’t score but Joaquin Torres is having a good start. Drifted into a dangerous area and got a shot on goal. Watch out for Philadelphia on the counter tonight.

1 ‘ – We are underway in Orlando, feels like it’s been years since the last Union match. With players missing on both sides due to international duty, this should be a really interesting one.

Starting Lineups

Here’s how the lads will line up tonight: https://t.co/2jl8SgK6fU

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

And now your Starting Lineup! 🙌 @orlandohealth | #VamosOrlando | #ORLvPHI pic.twitter.com/II5LlFhCCn

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 21, 2023

Injuries/Absences

  Philadelphia Union

OUT:

• Andrea Perea (Illness)
• Andre Blake (International Duty)
• Damion Lowe (International Duty)
• Daniel Gazdag (International Duty)

Orlando City SC

OUT:

• Adam Grinwis (Concussion protocol)
• Abdi Salim (Left knee)
• Wilder Cartagena (International duty)
• Pedro Gallese (International duty)
• Wilfredo Rivera (International duty)
• Facundo Torres (International duty)

QUESTIONABLE:

• Gaston Gonzalez (Right thigh)

How to Watch

Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
When: 7:39 p.m.; Wednesday, June, 21
Streaming: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
English Announcers: Steve Cangialosi, Danny Higginbotham
Spanish Announcers: Ramses Sandoval, Walter Roque
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic (Dave Leno, Sheanon Williams)
How to listen to home radio broadcast on MLS Season Pass

Officials

REF: Alex Chilowicz.
AR1: Andrew Bigelow.
AR2: Kevin Klinger.
4TH: Marcos DeOliveira.
VAR: Jair Marrufo.
AVAR: Fabio Tovar.