PHILADELPHIA, PA–NYCFC were lackluster in the final away game of the regular season. Matt Freese played well, but aside from the Montgomery County native, there were few individual bright spots. The Philadelphia Union scraped a 1-0 victory to clinch their second Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield title on Saturday night at Subaru Park.
Mikael Uhre’s deflected shot just six minutes from halftime proved to be the difference, though it was a just result given how the hosts dominated NYCFC throughout the evening.
The action started promptly, with a huge miss in the opening minute for Alonso Martinez. Martinez was sprung through on goal by a great Hannes Wolf pass. The Tico rounded the keeper and had a lot of real estate to work with. A big chance wasted.
Union quickly countered and worked themselves a corner. Milan Illoski tested Freese early on his homecoming with a placed shot down to the keeper’s left.
The South African youngster Olwethu Makhanya peppered Freese again in the eighth minute after some head tennis of the ensuing corner. Only one minute later, Freese denied Uruguayan international Bruno Damiani.
Just 16 minutes in, another opportunity was created by the Union on the counter. Damiani was on the end of a good cross. He produced a clever flick that was quelled by the ice-cool hands of Freese.
Daniel Jean Jaques was unlucky to be carded in the 17th minute. He showed his studs but won the ball in a coming together with Andreas Perea. Just seconds later, Martinez, with his back to goal, fizzed a difficult ball to Wolf. Wolf’s first-time volley prompted long-time Union keeper Andre Blake’s first save.
In the 31st minute, another golden chance fell to an NYCFC attacker. A brilliant succession of team passes, starting from the keeper, made it all the way to the six-yard box, where Wolf just snatched at the ball, sending it painfully over the bar.
Within the next two minutes, a card was issued to both an NYCFC and Union defender for their first offences. (Kevin O’Toole and Jakob Glesnes)
The Union finally broke the dam in the 39th minute when Uhre’s deflected shot from just 13 yards away from goal wrong-footed Freese. To Philadelphia’s credit, they had created the majority of the chances up until this point. Ironically, NYCFC could have just as easily had a goal of their own by halftime.
The second half resumed with one change from Jansen’s side. Aiden O’Niell came on field for Kevin O’Toole, forcing Justin Haak back to his usual center back role.
The next bit of serious action came in the 51st when former Aston Villa product, Indiana Vasilev stamped on Wolf, earning the Union’s third yellow card.
Freese was called into action yet again in the 56th minute. A curling effort from Vasilev was met with cat-like reflexes by the USMNT keeper.
The Dutch manager brought on another small fleet of substitutions in the 58th: Augustin Ojeda for Alonso Martinez, and Slovenian Mitja Ilenic, coming on for Grey at right back, looked to make an impact.
Ojeda had his shot extinguished by an outstretched Union defender’s leg in the 67th.
When the clock struck 79 minutes, the home supporters thought they had their second and the Supporters’ Shield sealed. Tai Baribo was deemed to be in an offside position even though Subaru Park errantly set off fireworks to immediately celebrate.
Wolf, who struggled to affect the game after squandering one of NYCFC’s biggest chances, was replaced by Julian Fernandez in the 78th.
Fernandez had an instant impact. The Argentine dribbled skillfully by two union players before sticking a cross on his fellow countryman’s head. Nicolas Fernandez should have done better, though at 5-foot-8, his aerial presence leaves some to be desired.
NYCFC were on the back foot for the majority of the second half. They fended off relentless pressure and were lucky not to be down more than one. Homegrown Maximo Carrizo came on and almost equalized with a toe-poked effort in the bottom corner. He was narrowly ruled offside by the assistant referee.
Full-time brought Philly a deserved result. They have had an excellent campaign this season and were rightly crowned champions of the regular season. Playoffs are a different animal. It remains to be seen who will come out on top in an elimination-style format.
