Game Thread: Philadelphia Union 2 vs FC Cincinnati 2; Final

Game Updates

90+8′- The final whistle is blown and the game ends with a draw.

90+4′- Now the Union are down a man as Elliott is shown a yellow card, which is his second. It was a stupid foul and a harsh ruling from the ref. Now the Union have just one center back on the field.

90+3′- The Union are going on the attack as they take off Lowe and replace him with Donovan.

90+1′- We will see at least 8 minutes of stoppage time here.

89′- Former Union player Ray Gaddis comes on for Arias.

87′- Boupendza’s night is done as Powell comes on as an extra defender. Off the free kick, the ball is sent into the box, Elliott tries to get a head on it as he jump up with the goalkeeper, but the keeper is able to control the ball.

85′- Baribo earns the games 11th yellow card.

83′- Cincinnati is playing down a man after Mosquera goes through and puts studs on top of Lowe’s foot. That follow through earned him his second yellow of the night.

77′- Tie game as Vazquez puts it into the back of the net. This goal came off a careless turnover by the Union.

73′- Union with their second sub of the night as Uhre, who gets some studs to his foot, is replaced by Baribo.

71′- Cincy makes their third sub of the night. Their striker Badju replaces Kubo.

64′- Great stop by Blake as he dives to save it. A second chance ball is headed over the ball by Boupendza, who has his head go into the shoulder of Harriel. The ref immediately called for the training staff since it was a head injury.

63′- Carranza is shown a yellow for a nice and clean tackle. Meanwhile, Bueno has come on for Martinez.

62′- He is up and on the sideline, so for the meantime the Union are playing down a man. The corner is sent into the box, it bounces around but then is defended by Cincy.

60′- Great defending from the team in orange, as they stop Uhre from being able to put the Union up 3-1. The ball goes out for a corner kick. But before it restarts, Martinez is down and the staff is out looking at him. He hasn’t gotten up yet and is holding his lower back.

54′ – Blake narrows the angle to thwart a Cincy player who had effortlessly breached the backline.

50′ – Boupendza rises to meet a lofted ball, heading it towards goal. However, celebrations are cut short as the assistant referee flags for offside.

49′ – The commentator’s jinx strikes! Just as they mention Blake’s clean sheet drought since June, Cincinnati’s Boupendza finds the net. The Union’s lead is now reduced to 2-1.

46′ – The second half kicks off. Cincinnati introduces two fresh faces; Murphy comes on for Hagglund, and Boupendza takes the place of ex-Union, Sergio Santos.

Halftime Stats

Philadelphia Union
Shots – 6
Shots on Goal – 4
Possession – 34.7%
Fouls – 13
Yellow Cards – 3 (Gazdag, Elliott, Lowe)
Red Cards – 0

FC Cincinnati
Shots – 5
Shots on Goal – 2
Possession – 65.3%
Fouls – 13
Yellow Cards – 4 (Miazga, Celentano, Mosquera, Hagglund)
Red Cards – 0

45+5′- The Union head into the locker room leading by two.

45+3′- After the latest yellow card, Cincy’s back three have all been brandished a yellow card here in the first half.

45+1′- We will have at least 5 minutes before the teams get separate for halftime. Cincy has a corner that ends in a foul.

42′ – Lowe’s aggressive challenge on a Cincinnati player turns a potential Union throw-in into a free kick for Cincinnati.

40′ – Uhre delivers a cross from the left edge of the box to the right, finding an unmarked Gazdag. The ball eventually goes out for a corner. The ensuing delivery causes a scramble in the box before being deflected out for another corner.

Our number 10 coverts his 10th penalty of the season 🎯

Gazdag now holds the record for most penalty kick goals in a single season in @MLS history with 10.#DOOP | #PHIvCIN 2-0 pic.twitter.com/SQYJaYK0j9

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) September 17, 2023

37′ – Gazdag confidently converts the penalty, extending the Union’s lead to 2-0.

36′ – Tensions flare at the top of the box before the penalty, resulting in Cincinnati’s Mosquera receiving a yellow card.

33′ – PENALTY! Gazdag breaks past Cincinnati’s defense and attempts a chip shot, only to be taken down by the rushing goalkeeper, who’s cautioned with a yellow.

32′ – Union’s free kick finds its way into the box but is promptly headed out, resulting in a goal kick.

Brujo. Banger. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/npUEWqGw8N

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 17, 2023

22′ – MARTINEZ! He scores his third MLS goal with a stunning long-range effort, assisted by McGlynn’s keen vision. Union lead 1-0.

21′ – Wagner’s free kick from 40 yards out is halted due to a Union foul. Gazdag is booked with a yellow for pushing an opponent.

19′ – After a VAR check, Cincinnati’s Miazga and Union’s Elliott both receive yellow cards – Miazga for misconduct and Elliott for a prior foul.

16′ – Union’s cross into the box is cleared amidst claims of a handball. As play stops for the VAR check, Gazdag is found on the ground, leading to a review for potential violent conduct.

5′ – Carranza is penalized for a shoulder charge on a Cincinnati player.

4′ – Cincinnati secures the match’s first corner, which is cleared by the Union. A subsequent attempt by Cincinnati is halted due to a foul in the box.

1′ – The match kicks off in Chester with the Union in their iconic home blues, attacking the River End in the first half.

Starting Lineups

Philadelphia Union

Tonight's #StartingXI vs Cincy 🐍

📝👉 https://t.co/Pn4SUxZkKz

#PHIvCIN | #DOOP | @mls pic.twitter.com/dNc0KyCjhc

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) September 16, 2023

FC Cincinnati

Taking the pitch for #PHIvCIN. pic.twitter.com/UwlSEjnijF

— x – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 16, 2023

Injuries/Absences

  Philadelphia Union

• OUT: Leon Flach (core)
• Suspended: Alejandro Bedoya

• OUT: Stiven Jimenez (lower leg fracture)
• Suspended: Luciano Acosta

How to Watch

Where: Subaru Park; Chester
When: 7:39 p.m.; Sunday, September 16, 2023
Streaming: Apple TV – Free
English Announcers: Steve Cangialosi, Danny Higginbotham
Spanish Announcers: Pablo Ramirez, Carlos Ruiz
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic (Dave Leno, Sheanon Williams)
How to listen to home radio broadcast on MLS Season Pass

Officials