Orlando Holds on to Beat Philadelphia 3-2

May 11, 2024

Chester, PA

Make that three consecutive home losses, as Orlando City SC claimed victory over the Philadelphia Union in front of a packed house at Subaru Park on Saturday evening.  An out-of-sorts Philadelphia defense continues to give up goals, even as the offense remains able to score.  As in many of its 2024 games, on Saturday the team was once again left to climb out of a scoring deficit and this time it was unable to pull off even a draw.

The Union faithful were encouraged when Philadelphia first marked the scoreboard in the 12th minute. Philadelphia’s Mikael Uhre shot left off of an assisting pass by Nathan Harriel.  But in no time, Orlando had leveled the score at 1-1 with a Duncan McGuire header with the assist going to Nicolás Lodeiro.

It seemed like Philadelphia would retreat to the locker room at the half with the 1-1 score, but in the 41st minute Luis Muriel added to Orlando’s score with a shot to the top left corner of Philadelphia’s goal. The assist was awarded to Nicolás Lodeiro.

Despite the scoreline, Philadelphia fans kept the faith with the knowledge that the Union has been stronger in second halves of late.  But in the 1st minute of the second half, Muriel outran Jakob Glesnes off of a Nicolás Lodeiro pass to add to the damage at 3-1.  The crowd was convinced that Muriel was offside, but Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner may have held him on.

The linesman viewed Quinn Sullivan’s rescinded goal differently, calling Dániel Gazdag offside in the 54th minute to preempt another Philadelphia goal.

At around to 61st minute, VAR concluded that Lodeiro was guilty of a handball in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.  The match was delayed by a good 5 minutes for the VAR review and an injury to Orlando’s Robin Jansson. By the 66th minute, Dániel Gazdag converted the penalty kick and the score was 3-2.

Despite controlling the game from this point on, Philadelphia simply was unable to score again.  The team did have the opportunity.  In the 85th minute, Kai Wagner lofted a cross toward the head of Nathan Harriel, who was held back by Orlando’s Iván Angulo.  With a second penalty kick awarded, it was expected that Gazdag would again convert, but Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese went left and saved the shot.

By the end, the effort and 18 minutes of stoppage time was not enough for the Union and the team was defeated for the third consecutive time at home.

Photos of the game appear below:

Uhre shoots through Orlando traffic to secure the first goal of the game.Quinn Sullivan dancing with the ball in the first half.Also known as “Nathan Aerial,” Harriel is able to elevate above heads.Philadelphia’s Gazdag looking to pass near Orlando’s goal.Duncan McGuire’s header goal leveling the score at 1-1.Orlando’s Luis Muriel scooted past Jakob Glesnes to score early in the second halfQuinn Sullivan’s goal was called offside.This is the Lodeiro hand ball leading to the Philadelphia PK.Gazdag converting the first PK.