{"id":45442,"date":"2022-11-01T17:31:28","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T21:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=45442"},"modified":"2022-11-01T17:31:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T21:31:28","slug":"union-rally-late-beat-nycfc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2022\/11\/01\/union-rally-late-beat-nycfc\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Rally Late to Beat NYCFC and Advance to MLS Cup Final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>CHESTER, PA &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite an early second-half goal from NYCFC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NYCFC\/status\/1586897972146544642?s=20&amp;t=FtCYxPVViRCzI769Z1l6YQ\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Maxi Moralez<\/a>, the Philadelphia Union rallied late with goals from Juli\u00e1n Carranza, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilaUnion\/status\/1586901585761894401?s=20&amp;t=FtCYxPVViRCzI769Z1l6YQ\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">D\u00e1niel Gazdag<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilaUnion\/status\/1586903342248349697?s=20&amp;t=FtCYxPVViRCzI769Z1l6YQ\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cory Burke<\/a> to defeat the reigning MLS Champions 3-1 and book the clubs ticket to the 2022 MLS Cup Final.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WE ARE <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@MLS<\/a> CUP BOUND\u203c\ufe0f\u203c\ufe0f\u203c\ufe0f<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PHIvNYC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#PHIvNYC<\/a> 3-1 | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DOOP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#DOOP<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PlanetFitness?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@PlanetFitness<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PfNusbhfgn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/PfNusbhfgn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilaUnion\/status\/1586909037832159237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 31, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Union Rally Late with Three Goals to beat New York City FC<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Strong Team Performance Earns DOOP Victory<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the backline to the forwards, the Union put in a solid team performance behind head coach Jim Curtin. Regardless of how frustrated Philadelphia might have felt following a 16th-minute goal from Gazdag ruled offside, going into halftime with an even scoreline, or allowing an early second-half goal to NYCFC, they showed resilience to dig this win out at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In front of their fans at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilaUnion\/status\/1586900470823624704?s=20&amp;t=FtCYxPVViRCzI769Z1l6YQ\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an absolutely electric Subaru Park<\/a>, players like Andre Blake, Jakob Glesnes, Kai Wagner, Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ednez, and the three-goal scorers, all put in some of their best shifts and no doubt it was vital in securing the Union a spot in their first ever MLS Cup Final.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>NYCFC Couldn\u2019t Spark its Own Attack<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite notching the one goal with some excellent passing and a nice finish from Moralez, NYCFC\u2019s attack was severely slacking throughout the match while dominating the possession with 65 percent, creating 10 shots, and forcing three big saves from Blake. It\u2019s clear NYCFC wasn\u2019t at 100 percent of strength with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nycfc.com\/news\/injury-report-five-questionable-vs-philadelphia-union\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">several key players listed on the injury report prior to matchday<\/a> but missing Talles Magno, in particular, was a big blow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Players like H\u00e9ber, Gabriel Pereira, and Santiago Rodr\u00edguez who caused issues for Miami and Montr\u00e9al in the earlier rounds we\u2019re non-existent on the pitch for long stretches as the midfield struggled to convert possession into attacking opportunities. And with three at the back in defense, the two wingbacks in Kevin O\u2019Toole and Anton Tinnerholm truly labored the most in battling with the quick counterattack of Philadelphia leaving them helpless going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>22-Year-Old Carranza with the Match of a Lifetime<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only did the 22-year-old Argentinian produce the Union\u2019s opening goal catching the NYCFC opposition off-guard on a substitution to tie the score at 1-1, but he also managed a gorgeous headed assist just minutes later to push Philadelphia into the lead for what would be the game-winner. Culminating in one of his best performances of the 2022 MLS season following a 14-goal, 6-assist campaign, the U23 Argentinian prospect was awarded Man of the Match vs New York City as Carranza practically carried the Union to their first MLS Cup Final appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While he was fairly quiet in the Union\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2022\/10\/24\/philadelphia-unions-semi-final-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">opening matchup with Cincinnati<\/a>, expect Caranza to be a key piece in the Philadelphia attack after a major performance to defeat the reigning champs.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ALL HAIL KING JULIAN \ud83d\udc51<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PHIvNYC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#PHIvNYC<\/a> 2-1 | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DOOP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#DOOP<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1izLKwxGAV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/1izLKwxGAV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilaUnion\/status\/1586900784515465216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 31, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>Last Word: Philadelphia Set to Battle with LAFC for 2022 MLS Cup<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the number 1 seeded Union fighting for a win over NYCFC, they\u2019ll advance to the 2022 MLS Cup Final to face the Western Conference Champions in LAFC on Saturday, October 5 at Los Angeles Banc of California Stadium. This will be the first time since 2003 that both top-seeded squads from their respective conference will advance to the MLS Cup meaning we should be in for an incredible matchup between two exciting and loaded sides in this year&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/mls-cup-playoffs\/2022\/matches\/lafcvsphi-11-05-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MLS season finale<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>With this matchup marking the first MLS Cup appearance for both Philadelphia and LA, we will have a brand new club adding a star to their crest at the completion of this MLS campaign.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Y9BQQMH1T6JFeLLaW3r1ng\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1244369111\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Y9BQQMH1T6JFeLLaW3r1ng',sig:'YfnvhuxeeTpie3o3dR5Qq_i_QUzRgTGbOo2tDX3WUjg=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1244369111',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CHESTER, PA &#8211; Despite an early second-half goal from NYCFC\u2019s Maxi Moralez, the Philadelphia Union rallied late with goals from Juli\u00e1n Carranza, D\u00e1niel Gazdag, and Cory Burke to defeat the reigning MLS Champions 3-1 and book the clubs ticket to the 2022 MLS Cup Final. WE ARE @MLS CUP BOUND\u203c\ufe0f\u203c\ufe0f\u203c\ufe0f#PHIvNYC 3-1 | #DOOP | @PlanetFitness [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3973,"featured_media":45447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[119,4,7],"tags":[399,2643,4448,4449,891,3826,4470,4839,4451,4447],"class_list":["post-45442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mls","category-nycfc","category-union","tag-andre-blake","tag-cory-burke","tag-daniel-gazdag","tag-jakob-glesnes","tag-jim-curtin","tag-julian-carranza","tag-kai-wagner","tag-maxi-morales","tag-santiago-rodriguez","tag-subaru-park"],"modified_by":"Raheem Bashir, Site Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3973"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}