Union strike back for late win over NYCFC, 2-1

The Union secured a statement victory Sunday night by defeating NYCFC, 2-1. For the second time this season -- and first at Subaru Park-- Jim Curtin’s team defeated the 2021 MLS champion New York City FC, the squad responsible for their elimination from last year’s playoffs.

The much-needed win comes amidst a slew of draws for the Union, who have lost just once this year but draw more often than they win and hold the league-wide record for stalemates.

The Union (7-8-1) ended the weekend first in the Eastern Conference once again. After drawing in seven of their last eight matches, they took all three points to reclaim the top position over their northern neighbors.

Curtin and his team have voiced frustration over the run of draws, their inability to put games away, and score lines that don’t reflect chances they’ve created. Sunday’s victory not only reclaims the top spot, it adds a morale boost for a team stuck in a slump of draws and adds momentum to a pair of strikers short on strikes.

Curtin said the Union have a target on their back now in regard to other teams and coaches: “They see Philadelphia on the schedule now, it’s the team they know they have to be ready for.”

High on the list of reasons for the Union’s draw-heavy record is their inability to convert chances into goals or rely consistently on any of their four strikers. The team remains characteristically sound on defense but short on sharpness up top, giving up few goals but lacking lethality in the final third.

The offseason’s much-hyped accrual of Danish striker and designated player, Mikael Uhre, has produced slow dividends as the Danish Superliga golden boot winner suffered injury, then struggled to find a dominant foot forward in Major League Soccer. Uhre looked effective Sunday against NYCFC. He paired well with Julian Carranza in the attack, impacted the game on and off the ball and scored the Union’s early goal inside the first 10 minutes.

“Strikers need to be in rhythm, they need to be fit, and he’s building that fitness,” Curtin said about Uhre.

NYCFC’s otherwise potent attacking talent was all but silenced by the Union’s backline. Taty Castellanos had little to say on the evening until the 88th minute when a handball in the box set him up for his 8th league goal. Castellanos sent the ball left as Union goaltender Andre Blake dove right, leveling the match 1-1 with minutes left to spare.

Curtin praised the team’s resolve, saying he’d instructed them before the match that win, lose, or draw: “Let’s look like the Philadelphia Union, the team that has fight.”

With no shortage of fight from any corner of the pitch, the Union fought back from the late setback rather than settle for the apparent draw.

In the waning seconds of stoppage time, Jamaican international Cory Burke arrived to collect his third goal this year and salvage a victory. Burke’s goal was initially called back but stood after review.

After the match, Burke emphasized how disappointing the trend of draws had been for the team: “It felt like a loss.”

“Tonight we scored first again and then we conceded,” Burke said. “For me to get a goal and win the game, it’s a good feeling.”

Curtin was pleased with the victory, especially considering the caliber of the opponent. “You get punched in the teeth quickly in this league,” he said. “We’ll be ready. We’ll go again in Chicago.”

With the victory, the Union head to Chicago to play the Fire on Wednesday evening.