April 27, 2024
Chester, PA
Until Saturday evening, the Philadelphia Union had been the last undefeated team left in the MLS. That accomplishment was put to an end Saturday when Real Salt Lake squeaked ahead of Philadelphia in the 86th minute at home. At one point in the season, Philadelphia seemed to have cornered the market on late scores that altered the scoreline of away games. On March 2, 2024, the Union scored in stoppage time against Sporting Kansas City, ending the match with a 1-1 draw. On April 6, 2024, against Nashville, Philadelphia was down a goal at the half, but scored two in the second half including one at the 90th minute to emerge the victor. Against Atlanta, on April 14, 2024, Atlanta was beating Philadelphia 2-0, when the Union scored twice within two minutes to end in a draw. On Saturday, it felt like Real Salt Lake “out-Unioned” the Union.
To be fair, while Real Salt Lake looked strong on Saturday night, so did the Union. Both teams did well defensively. The first goal scored by Real Salt Lake in the 34th minute was something of a fluke. Salt Lake’s Andrés Gómez shot from the right side of the box which Philadelphia’s Andre Blake was able to save the shot, but the save’s backspin directed the ball backwards past Blake into the goal. The assist was given to Cristian Arango.
Philadelphia pushed back with a score of its own in the 50th minute. Quinn Sullivan gathered a a deflection off of Dániel Gazdag near the left end line and passed the ball back to an off-balance Gazdag. Gazdag then back-passed the ball on diagonal into the Salt Lake goal resulting in the 1-1 scoreline. The Union was re-energized by the goal.
Then, in the 86th minute, Real Salt did to Philadelphia what Philadelphia had been doing to other teams at home. Alexandros Katranis shot a left footed rocket from distance to the top right corner of Philadelphia’s goal. The scoreline ended there, even with 7 minutes of stoppage. Philadelphia simply was unable even to draw the score even.
Pictures of the game appear below:
Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner goes up with Salt Lake’s Andres Gomez
The Union’s Nathan Harriel moving against Alexandros Katranis.
Philadelphia’s José Martínez defending against Cristian Arango.
Union Captain Alejandro Bedoya started and finished the game.
The game winner is shot by Alexandros Katranis.
Philadelphia’s Julián Carranza holding back Brayan Vera.
