Philadelphia Union Grits Out Mazatlán FC in Leagues Cup

Chester, PA

August 17, 2024

For the Philadelphia Union, it was a bittersweet victory in PKs (4-3) over Mazatlán FC in Leagues Cup action. Bitter because the Subaru Park fans knew that it was the beloved José Martínez’s last game in a Union kit. Similarly bitter because a seemingly-biased referee sent Tai Baribo off the pitch in the first half with a second yellow. Both cards were questionable, and the referee could have fairly waved the “play-on” signal. Sweet because Mazatlán dove as frequently as the referee made calls against Philadelphia, leaving the crowd frustrated, and because Philadelphia’s keeper Andre Blake is back to his exceptional form.

In the fortieth minute, the referee showed Baribo his first yellow. That was followed a minute later with a straight red to Baribo. To a certain extent VAR did its job, and after video review the referee reduced the penalty to a second yellow — but with the same outcome — Baribo’s ejection from the game.

As if in deep protest to that result, minutes later in first half stoppage time, Philadelphia mustered its strength to assemble a fast break pass from Jack McGlynn to a sprinting Mikael Uhre. Mazatlán’s keeper Ricardo Gutierrez came out a bit early on Uhre, and Uhre raised the ball over Gutierrez to score from a difficult angle. At the half Philadelphia was ahead, 1-0.

For the second half, Philadelphia’s ten-manned side conceded virtually all possession to Mazatlán. The Mexican team leveled the score in the 59th minute when Ramiro Árciga crossed right to Alonso Escoboza who headed the ball into the left corner of Philadelphia’s goal.

After the conclusion of second-half stoppage play with the score still tied at 1-1, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout. Setting the tone for the game’s conclusion, Andre Blake saved the first shot by Mazatlán’s Josué Colmán. Because Coach Jim Curtin had subbed Samuel Adeniran for Dániel Gazdag, Philadelphia’s usual choice for PKs, Philadelphia’s shooting began with José Martínez who buried his shot to the top left corner. Blake also saved the third attempt by Mazatlán’s Alan Torres. With Sam Adeniran’s attempt just off the mark, the game fell into the hands of Philadelphia’s Jesús Bueno, who finished the job by shooting into the bottom right of the goal. The final score was a 1-1 (4-3) with Philadelphia moving on to play the Columbus Crew in the semi-finals. Barring a successful appeal of Baribo’s ejection, the Union will be without Baribo for the game against the Crew.

Photographs of the game appear below:

Mazatlán’s Brian Rubio bringing the ball downfield. Alejandro Bedoya is left alone with the ball. The Union’s Mikael Uhre on his second fast break on the evening. One of Andre Blake’s outstanding saves on the evening, which Jack Elliott ultimately booted away from danger. Philadelphia’s Andre Blake saving Josué Colmán’s attempt. A fitting end to his Union career, José Martínez converts to the upper left of goal. Martínez shows his love to the crowd. Blake saving Alan Torres’s attempt. Philadelphia’s Jesús Bueno doing his job . . . and wallowing in the win.