Cards fly as Union & Cincinnati battle to stalemate

Imagine ahead of the game if I told you that the Union drawing the league-leading FC Cincinnati would be a disappointment. Taking a point against a team that is going to be in play to win the whole thing sounds pretty dang good. But this was one that was ripe for the taking, and the three points just slipped from Philadelphia’s grasp.

Philadelphia opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. It came after an opening section full of pushing and shoving. Three yellow cards were given out, with Matt Miazga and Daniel Gazdag going at it early on. Jack McGlynn found Jose Martinez wide open outside of the box, otherwise known as his shooting range. With nobody there to even deter the shot, El Brujo fired a rocket of a shot past the keeper. It is his third goal of the year as the bank continues to be open for Martinez.

Daniel Gazdag would make it 2-0 for the Union in the 37th minute, converting from his favorite shooting range. Gazdag was found wide open in the box and was taken out by the opposing keeper Celentano. Celentano earned a yellow card for his foul. He guessed the right way on the penalty attempt but was unable to get a hand on Gazdag’s shot. With the goal, Gazdag became the first player in MLS history to score 10 penalty kick goals in a single MLS regular season.

The Hungarian international would nearly give the Union a three-goal lead just three minutes later, his shot saved by Celentano. Though an unfortunate chance missed at the time, that third goal possibly could have put Cincy away for good.

The visitors would strike back early into the second, proving that a two-goal lead is quite possibly the most dangerous in soccer. Aaron Boupendza scored just minutes after coming on at the half, scoring off of an assist by Yuya Kubo. Boupendza would further impact the game, assisting on Brandon Vazquez’s equalizer in the 76th minute. A bad giveaway by the Union down the right-hand side sent Boupendza down the flank. He would deliver a perfect pass ahead of the Union defender to find Vazquez in the center of the box.

Neither team were able to find the game winning goal in the remaining 20-or-so minutes. There was a lot of fouling, with both Yerson Mosquera and Jack Elliott sent off due to yellow card accumulation. In all, 10 players were booked in this contest.

With the win, Cincinnati holds a nine-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference standings over New England. Philadelphia remains in fourth place, within three points of taking over second place with a game in hand. Philadelphia will travel to Charlotte on Wednesday night for their next contest.