Three second half goals lift Union to 4-2 win over Orlando City

For all the talk of a new era in Philadelphia and the negativity from the fanbase and national media, the Philadelphia Union looked a lot like the Philadelphia Union of previous seasons in their 4-2 win over Orlando City to start the 2025 campaign on Saturday night.

From a disjointed and disastrous start conceding a goal in the 8th minute to newcomer Marco Pašalić to a quick recovery, equalizer off a turnover and 3-goal 16-minute span in the second half where they took advantage of Orlando City’s mistakes to Andre Blake’s heroics to deny a would-be goal the only real noticeable difference outside of three players making their MLS debuts were the new secondary uniforms.

Baribo led the way with an equalizer off a cross from Kai Wagner in the 23rd minute on a play made possible by Quinn Sullivan dispossessing Iván Angulo and taking a shot that was deflected into the path of Wagner. After the goal the Union maintained momentum and put the hosts on their back heel on a couple dangerous set pieces. The boys in blue continued that resurgence in the second half and Sullivan delivered a masterful ball to the back post to set up Daniel Gazdag’s go-ahead goal three minutes in.

Three minutes later, Rodrigo Schlegel’s heavy touch on a back pass fell to the feet of Mikael Uhre, who didn’t hesitate and smashed the ball into the back of the net. Cue the shocked reactions.

Trying to find a way back into the game now suddenly down two, Orlando looked bright in possession and was able to create a number of chances but whether it was Blake or the woodwork in the way, the guys in purple weren’t able to find a way back into the game, instead watching as the Union put a fourth goal in the back of the net when debutant Frankie Westfield got a deflected ball back and set up Baribo for his second in the 64th minute.

Five minutes later, Blake stretched out to deny substitute Luis Muriel a headed chance off one of several dangerous crosses from the left flank by Rafael Santos. It was Blake’s second save in a three-minute span to deny the Orlando rally. The two saves would prove even more valuable when Pašalić scored his second of the night in the 79th minute. The goal came off a wild play that saw the Croatian get two cracks at the goal after Luis Muriel hit the crossbar. Orlando had some additional looks – including one on a dangerous free kick that hit the wall – but the Union were able to hold Orlando to earn all three points to start the season.

As it was often the case even when the Union won last season, the stats tilted heavily in Orlando’s favor with advantages of 3.2-2.2 in xG, 10-4 in shots on goal and 55.6-44.4 in possession.

While by no means the Union at their best, it’s hard to imagine a better way to start a season with a new head coach and several new players than a road win against an Orlando team that had never lost a season opener (all at home) in team history.

The next test will be to see how the team can continue to gel with a little bit of wind in their sails and another week of training as they prep for the test they too often failed last season – replicating their road form at Subaru Park and rebuilding the Chester venue as a fortress.