Game Thread: Philadelphia Union 2 vs Cincinnati 0, Final

Game Updates

90+3’ - Final whistle and the Union move to second place with one game remaining. They also finish the regular season with 11 wins at home. They also have the chance to set a new club points record next Sunday.

90+1’ - A minimum of two minutes stands between the Union finishing the weekend in second place.

90’ - Final subs here for the U and it is a double switch. Sullivan comes on for Gazdag. Bueno comes on for the captain, Bedoya.

88’ - Elliott puts the breaks on Cincinnati’s counter.

83’ - Union’s Harriel draws a foul from outside the right side of the box. Wagner lines up and drills it to the inside of the box but it is cleared out for a goal kick.

81’ - Flach commits a foul here giving Cincinnati a free kick dead center of the pitch from about 20 yards out. The ball is shot straight into the arms of Blake.

80’ - Gazdag with a rocket from just outside the box, however it just barely goes over the crossbar. The Union also making a double switch here pulling McGlynn and Przybylko off the pitch. The pair are replaced by Flach and Burke (His first minutes since early September).

76’ - Union making a switch here and bringing Mbaizo off the pitch. He is replaced by Nathan Harriel.

74’ - Union trying to slow the game down and maintain possession, however there is a miscommunication at midfield that allows Cincinnati to get up field with numbers. THe threat is handled by the Union.

71’ - Cincinnati making a double switch here to bring on more offense.

63’ - It took this long for our first stop by Blake. However he dives to make sure the ball stays out of the net.

55’ - Aaronson finds a streaking Bedoya who is open on the right side of the net. Bedoya crosses it to Przybylko who should have buried that into the top of the net, instead his shot goes above the crossbar.

53’ - Gazdag gets the ball and passes it over to McGlynn. After the dump Gazdag goes wide and draws some defenders while McGlynn quickly dumps it over to Aaronson. Aaronson bounces the ball off his feet and then shoots it to the back of the net.

46’ - Second half gets underway at 8:40 PM.

45+1’ - The free kick from the left side of the box goes wide of anyone and the ref whistles for half time. Teams head to the locker room at 8:25 PM.

45’ - Ref whistles for a foul here and the fourth official signals there will be at least one minute of stoppage time.

38’ - McGlynn gets wide open and the Union give him the ball. McGlynn lines up and releases the shot but it goes just wide of the net.

35’ - Off a corner here Glesnes gets a head on it and it is cleared at the line by Cincinnati.

30’ - Thoughts on the first 30 minutes, the Union are looking really good here in the final stretch of the season. Which is a good thing heading into the playoffs. I really like the two 10’s on the field. In this game the U are doing well playing a high line and are doing great with the press, that is allowing them some good positions within 30 yards of Cincinnati’s goal.

25’ - The youngster McGlynn showing why Curtin started him, for his passing skills, as he does some great passing inside the box. After the give and go from Gazdag, his shot his placed right into the midsection of Cincinnati’s goalkeeper.

21’ - Union attacking down the right side here with 4 people on the attack. Bedoya passes it to Aaronson who does some fancy footwork and then tries to get it to Gazdag but the pass is wide of the net.

18’ - Cincinnati on the counter here and it is stopped by Glesnes, who sends the ball the other way. It ends after VAR rules Przybylko offsides.

UPDATE - The goal here in the 11 minute was eventually changed to Gazdag. So the RB goal drought lives on.

11’ - Wagner’s kick gets cleared out. Bedoya eventually recovers it and sends it from the bottom right side of the box to the top of the box where Mbaizo was waiting. Mbaizo takes the one timer and it goes to the back of the net for his first MLS goal!

10’ - Bedoya with a low cross into the box and Aaronson cans on the end of it, but the ball is blocked and out for the U’s first corner of the night.

6’ - Quick free kick by the Union and Przybylko gets tangled up with a Cincinnati defender, the ball goes out and it looks like it will be a corner. However, the ref rules it a goal kick.

1’- We are underway. The Union are in their dark blues and are defending the river end in the first half.

Starting Lineups

Philadelphia Union:

FC Cincinnati

Injuries/Absences

The following is a list of names from the league’s player availability report.

Philadelphia Union

• OUT: Sergio Santos (quad)
• OUT: Jamiro Monteiro (knee)
• QUESTIONABLE: Alvas Powell (hamstring)
• QUESTIONABLE: Ilsinho (hamstring)
• QUESTIONABLE: Cory Burke (ankle)

FC Cincinnati

• OUT: Maikel van der Werff (sports hernia)
• OUT: Beckham Sunderland (concussion)
• QUESTIONABLE: Gustavo Vallencia (hamstring)

How to Watch

Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pa.
When: 7:38 p.m.; Saturday, October 31, 2021
TV: PHL17
Radio: Fox Sports The Gambler 1480 AM and 105.3 HD2
Audio Streaming: iHeart Radio App, Fox Sports The Gambler
Video Streaming: Philadelphiaunion.com (in the Philly area), ESPN+ (Outside of the Philly area)** BrotherlyGame has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though BrotherlyGame and SB Nation may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.

Officials

Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referee: Brian Dunn
Assistant Referee: Cory Richardson
Fourth Official: Alan Kelly
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Assistant VAR: Jeff Muschik