Chester, PA: After going through a long regular season and a couple of in-season tournaments, the Playoffs have finally arrived and your Philadelphia Union will look to defend their Eastern Conference Title. They started the defense as they took on the New England Revolution from Subaru Park in the best-of-three first-round series.
Lineup:
Round One, Game One #StartingXI ⚡️
📝👉 https://t.co/wY0Kc5Rvb9#StrikeGold | #PHIvNE | #DOOP | #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4rP4bjk8OM
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 28, 2023
Before the game, the Union had Sebastien LeToux bang the drum to get the stadium rocking.
How the game went:
The Union would jump all over New England in the first half with three goals, led by Daniel Gazdag on a penalty kick in the 19th minute.
Dániel Gazdag strikes from the spot to open the scoring. 🎯#DOOP // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/waKCShUL7m
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 28, 2023
Then Mikael Uhre scored in the 26th minute. To cap things off in the first half, Nathan Harriel’s score in the 37th minute made it 3-0
It has been all Philadelphia Union in the first half as they now leave 3-0 the latest goal was by Nathan Harrell#DOOP #MLSCupPlayoffs #PHIvNE pic.twitter.com/6e1oX5MYZJ
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) October 28, 2023
New England had no idea what hit them.
Going into the second half, could New England have an answer? Not really, as Andre Blake would make some big saves and only let in one goal from Gustavo Bou in the 68th minute.
The Union would hold on for a 3-1 win and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Final: The @PhilaUnion win 3-1 & lead 1-0 in Best of 3 format
Game 2 in New England#DOOP #MLSCupPlayoffs #PHIvNE pic.twitter.com/DAZevc4uHL
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) October 28, 2023
Postgame:
Philadelphia Union Coach Jim Curtin would announce some injury news about Jakob Glesnes:
BREAKING: Jakob Glesnes is scheduled to have sports hernia surgery on Tuesday.
“It’s a surgery that you know, he's not coming back in a week or two. Again, I'll never rule him out, but it's going to take a couple of weeks to heal.” #Doop
— Todd Lewis (@ItsAToddLife) October 28, 2023
More from Jim Curtin:
Here is what Jim Curtin said following their Game 1 Playoff win over New England#DOOP #MLSCupPlayoffs #PHIvNE pic.twitter.com/wl69VWONl6
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) October 29, 2023
Nathan Harriel:
What is next:
The Union will now have 11 days off until they play Game Two of the series against New England up at Gillette Stadium. If the Union win Game 2, then they move on to the net round. If it goes to a Game 3, then it returns to Subaru Park on November 12.
