Philadelphia Union
Short-handed Union play Nashville to scoreless draw
Coming off their first loss since before the World Cup and down three top attacking players, the Philadelphia Union will be happy to leave Music City with a point after playing Supporters’ Shield winners Nashville SC to a scoreless draw on Wednesday night.
The draw marked just the second time this season Nashville has dropped points at GEODIS Park and the first time since a 2-2 draw with D.C. United in May.
It could’ve been more than just a point for interim head coach Ryan Richter – now unbeaten in 16 of 17 games as head coach – against former Union assistant BJ Callaghan and Wyndmoor, Pa. native Daniel Lovitz.
After a sleepy first half that saw just two shots (both from the visitors) and a .15 to 0 xG titled toward the Union, both teams started to create more opportunities in the second half with Nashville ending with a slight 1.2 to 1 edge in xG.
A Ben Bender chance loomed largest in the end but a better header from Jeisson Palacios off a well served Cristian Espinoza corner in the 76th minute might have put the hosts one point off Inter Miami’s record for points in a season (74).
Bender’s massive chance to put the visitors ahead in the 71st minute came off a Quinn Sullivan cross and despite having plenty of open net in front of him to put the ball away, the substitute’s attempt was in the one spot Nashville keeper Brian Schwake was able to stop diving back across the goal.
The attempt was the only shot on target registered on the night for the visitors, which paired 17-year-old striker Malik Jakupovic in his first MLS start up top with 21-year-old Ezekiel Alladoh in place of the suspended Bruno Damiani and injured Milan Iloski. Jakupovic and Alladoh struggled to put a stamp on the match and neither registered a shot. Cavan Sullivan missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.
Earlier in the half Neil Pierre had a goal-bound header cleared by Reed Baker-Whiting and in the closing seconds of the game both Sullivan and Hany Mukhtar were able to create some near chances with industrious runs but the final ball was lacking for both sides in the midweek deadlock. Andre Blake was called on just once to make a save, a fairly routine stop on a second ball header from substitute Sam Surridge off a long throw.
While the point was needed for the U to close within 3 of Charlotte in fifth place, a result ended up not being needed for them to clinch a playoff berth. That happened thanks to an 83rd minute winner for former Union player Daniel Gazdag for New England Revolution in a 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls.
The playoff berth is the 10th in team history for the Philadelphia Union, which travels next to FC Cincinnati on Saturday, where they will be without midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (yellow card suspension) but will get Bruno Damiani and possibly both Cavan Sullivan and Milan Iloski back. The regular season finale is back at home against Toronto FC on Saturday, November 7.
