Philadelphia Union squeak by Chicago Fire in opening playoff game, 2-2 (4-2)

Chester, PA

October 26, 2025

As the winner of the 2025 Supporter’s Shield, the Philadelphia Union earned home field advantage in the  playoffs.  The first game in the “best of three” first round playoff against the Chicago Fire on Sunday started slowly, but eventually brought on everything that a playoff game can offer:  excitement, disappointment, goals and responding goals, a red card and a penalty shootout.  When the game concluded, Philadelphia ended up the winner over Chicago on a PK tiebreaker, 2-2 (4-2).

Gregg Berhalter’s game strategy for Chicago emerged early:  Match Philadelphia’s physicality and oppose the Union’s press by slowing down the game on free kicks, keeper possessions and throw-ins.  Play for a draw and pull off a win in PKs.   The Fire successfully executed that plan, except for pulling off the win.

The first half best could be described as uninspired, as neither team was superior.  Midway through the second half however, Philadelphia took control. In the 70th minute, Mikael Uhre caught a fast break on the right wing. Indiana Vassilev was alone on the left side of the Chicago goal waiting for Uhre’s pass.  By the time the pass from Uhre was delivered, Vassilev was close to and on the left side of goal with a challenging angle.  Vassilev let the pass bounce off his chest and took his time with a well-placed left-footed shot into the right back corner of Chicago’s goal.  Philadelphia took the lead, 1-0.

Shortly later, Philadelphia extended its lead to 2-0.  At the 75th minute, Tai Baribo passed to Milan Iloski, also sprinting down the right wing. Iloski brought the ball into the box, looked for an open man, and chose instead to cut the ball back past the former Philadelphia fan favorite, Jack Elliott with a left-footed shot into the left upper corner of the Chicago goal.

With the 2-0 lead and a mere 15 minutes remaining in regulation time, it looked as if Philadelphia had the game under wraps.  Not so.  In the 84th minute, Elliott took a shot off of a Chicago corner, but it hit the right post.  Chicago’s Jonathan Bamba connected on the ricochet, past Philadelphia’s keeper Andre Blake.  The assist was awarded to Andrew Gutman.

Chicago needed another score to earn the draw, and they got just that.  The referee announced 6 minutes of stoppage time, which seemed long, given the mere 2 minutes of stoppage time for the first half.  In the first minute, Philadelphia’s Jakob Glesnes committed a foul just outside the Union box.  Bamba took the free kick directly on goal, but the shot was blocked.  The rebound landed at the feet of Jack Elliott, who shot the ball past four defenders and Andre Blake into the Philadelphia goal to earn the draw.

As stoppage time wound down, Chicago’s Brian Gutiérrez leaned on Kai Wagner and Wagner went to ground.  Wagner, upset by something, got up and pushed Gutiérrez.  Out of nowhere, Chicago’s Sergio Oregel entered the fray and pushed back against Wagner.  Wagner fell again and held his neck.  For their efforts, Wagner and Gutiérrez were shown yellow, but Oregel was shown red and thus will be unable to play in the next match.

Because it was a playoff game, the draw resulted in a penalty shoot-out.  The first round of the shoot-out was a wash, with the shots of Uhre and Elliott both being saved.  Philadelphia’s Frankie Westfield and Milan Iloski both scored, as did Chicago’s Gutiérrez and Hugo Cuypers. In the next round, Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo converted, but Chicago’s Joel Waterman hit the bar.  The outcome of the game rested on Philadelphia’s “fifth man,” Jesús Bueno, who successfully shot into the right of Chicago’s goal.  The game ended with a Philadelphia win.

Photographs of the game appear below:

 

Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo leading the way past Chicago’s Rominigue Kouamé.

There were sore eyes in Subaru Park to see the former Union favorite, Jack Elliott, play for the Windy City.The Union’s Bruno Damiani reaching out in front of Chicago’s Jonathan Dean.Chicago’s Hugo Cuypers followed closely by the Union’s Jovan Lukic.Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner in full stretch.Wagner going down a second time after a shove by the red-carded Sergio Oregel.Oregal leaving the match after having been shown red.The prodigy Cavan Sullivan gaining minutes along side of Chicago’s Maren Haile-Selassie.