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Monday Morning Game Changers: Barnetta's bomb

It wasn't all about Tranquillo Barnetta's golazo, but it kinda was.

The Philadelphia Union’s Tranquillo Barnetta hits a free kick against Orlando City SC at Talen Energy Stadium.
The Philadelphia Union's Tranquillo Barnetta hits a free kick against Orlando City SC at Talen Energy Stadium.
Trey Madara / Brotherly Game

There was really only one big game changing moment in Friday night's game - Tranquillo Barnetta's free kick golazo. Now we'll get to it, but as in most matches there were lots of little moments that led up to the one big moment and we should look at those moments first.

1.) Orlando City coming in short handed. Maybe not short handed, but when you're missing Brek Shea and Cyle Larin you're already behind quite a bit. Larin has 20 goals in his 31 career MLS games, three of which came in his four games this year. Having him out was a huge boost for the Union, as was missing their Shea at left back. Shea's absence allowed both Sebastien Le Toux and Keegan Rosenberry to maraud down the Union's right against a clearly outmatched Luke Boden.

2.) CJ Sapong's early goal set the tone. A great team goal in the first minutes of the match helped erase any memory of last week's debacle in Chicago against the Fire. Watch the buildup - five Union players touched the ball before the ball was crossed. It was a great cross by Rosenberry - either it isn't touched by Orlando City's Rafael Ramos and goes across to Chris Pontius, or when Ramos touches it, CJ Sapong is there to have a shot on goal.

Ramos's clearance attempt was poor at best, and Sapong banged it home to give the Union the lead before the clock struck 2:00.

3.) Andre Blake was amazing as usual. Perhaps us Philadelphia Union fans are becoming a bit spoiled by the heroics of Andre Blake, but that doesn't make these stops any less important.

How can a goalkeeper win two points for a club? That's how.

4.) Joe Bendik's saving face. It seems like every match, the opposing goalkeeper brings his best game - and Joe Bendik was no exception. This should have been Ken Tribbett's first MLS goal, but Bendik took one for his team to keep things level.

As we all know though, Bendik's heroics weren't enough.

5.) Tranquillo Barnetta ices it.

This is the kind of strike that can lift a team from being good to being great; that can build a positive momentum for a team that lasts for weeks and months.

Was there something else that should have been mentioned? Let us know in the comments section below!