Union and LAFC play a watered down MLS Cup final rematch

When the 2023 MLS schedule was released last December, Union fans marked September 23rd in red pen. The rematch of arguably the greatest MLS game in league history would take place at Subaru Park in the season’s final weeks with the league’s two best teams potentially fighting for the Supporters’ Shield. This was the type of mouth-watering matchup MLS would have anticipated, yet Saturday night’s 0-0 draw was nothing even close to the potential.

If hype were a hot air balloon, consider the Union-LAFC rematch a hole-ridden bag that never inflated, let alone got off the ground. In a game known more for sideways rain and wind gusts, the Union and LAFC combined for zero shots on goal (though Maxime Crepeau did have to save a deflected Nathan Harriel cross), and the Union led .3 to .1 in expected goals.

So last night was epic. @PhilaUnion vs @LAFC in a #MLSCup rematch.

Fewest combined xG in a game in ‘23.

Lowest xG of the OPTA era!#LAFC #DOOP pic.twitter.com/AT7AnEq0aw

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) September 24, 2023

After playing midweeks (Union 2-2 FC Charlotte, LAFC 0-0 St. Louis), both teams rotated lineups. The Union ruled out Jakob Glesnes, ending his ironman streak at 101 games, and Jose Martinez, both due to nagging injuries likely caused by the fatigue of a congested season. LAFC left stars Carlos Vela and Denis Bouanga on the bench, as well as MLS Cup PK winner, Ilie Sanchez, whose pregame commercial continues to remind Union fans of the agonizing end to the 2022 season. LAFC’s 43 games played this season matches the Union’s 43, with another midweek this Wednesday against Tigres in the Campeones Cup, yet another game predicated on exploiting the U.S.-Mexico rivalry even after the monthlong Leagues Cup tarnished the integrity of an already demanding league season.

Though the Union looked to have control of the game, they came no closer to scoring a goal than anyone in the stands, with Kai Wagner’s free kick attempt well over the bar in the sixth minute and Mikael Uhre’s weak touch sailing high of the target in the thirty-ninth. Aside from a lopsided possession advantage, the Union failed to take advantage of any wind-aided shots
against Crépeau, who made his third MLS start since returning from the horrific injury suffered in last November’s final.

The lone moment of excitement came in the 50 th minute when Daniel Gazdag headed home Tai Baribo’s shot off the crossbar, putting the Union up in what could have easily been the game-winner. But Uhre was ruled offside by half a body length on the buildup, and the Union never came close to frame for the remaining forty minutes.

The Union left with a vital point, which keeps them in the top-four of the Eastern Conference, but there’s no doubt they’re showing signs the season may be whittling away. With the Union already missing Glesnes and Martinez, and Gazdag’s minutes pushing the limits, the Union then lost Julian Carranza at halftime due to post-concussion symptoms suffered in a second minute challenge from defender Aaron Long. Surprisingly, Carranza was cleared on the field but according to Curtin after the game, exhibited dizziness when the players returned to the locker room at halftime.

“You can talk to Steve [Cherundulo], and I talked to him for a little while before the game,” Union coach Jim Curtin said about the impact of the season on the game. “It’s tough. What should be a great rematch of last year’s final and probably the best final that there’s been, it should have a week buildup of hype and fresh players, that would be ideal.”

Since crashing out to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, LAFC has gone 2-3-2. Meanwhile, after the Union defeated Monterrey in the third place game of Leagues Cup, their 7th of the competition, they are 2-1-4, with their second of three straight midweeks to come against FC Dallas.

“Obviously, the schedule doesn’t allow that. We have a lot of guys with injuries and little knocks here and there, and he has to keep guys fresh for Campeones Cup. So it becomes difficult. These are games of high intensity, a really good opponent, but I don’t think either team’s best group was on the field.”

Concerning for Jim Curtin’s side is that four players tied with one shot each. The aforementioned Wagner free kick and Uhre touch were far from dangerous. Carranza had a shot while playing 43 minutes with a concussion, and Harriel blasted an open look in the second half. They are certainly a team crawling to the finish line. With midfield engine Leon Flach possibly out for the remainder of the season and captain Alejandro Bedoya still working himself back into fitness, Jesus Bueno and Jack McGlynn took over the duties as the six and eight respectively with little to give.

On a positive note, the Union recorded their 9 th clean sheet of the season, their first in league play since the 2-0 win in Nashville. Defensively, their back line remains one of the best in the league, and it wouldn’t be the first time they finished the season with narrow wins and locked down performances heading into the playoffs. With three other teams (Columbus, Atlanta, and New England) level on 49 points, one behind Orlando for the second spot, the Union are in familiar territory over the final stretch of games, fighting for the right to host games in the playoffs where the fatigue might not matter as much. Even still, we can’t ignore the ugliness to a game that should have given more.