Philadelphia Union Strong-Arms D.C. United, 4-0

September 22, 2024

Chester, PA

On Sunday evening, the Philadelphia Union continued self-correcting its 2024 season, just as the team is moving into the playoff stretch.  Sunday’s game against D.C. United was seen as a “must win” — for both Philadelphia and D.C. United.  But just one team gained three points for its record, and that was the Philadelphia Union – winning emphatically at 4-0.

Both teams had good starts, including an 11th minute shot by D.C. United’s Mateusz Klich to left corner of Philadelphia’s goal, but Philadelphia’s Andre Blake made the save.  The Union scored its first goal in the 13th minute when Quinn Sullivan evaded Pedro Santos to sprint to the endline and cross left to a waiting Mikael Uhre, who tapped the ball into the goal.

Shortly thereafter, in the 16th minute, Nathan Harriel passed from the left to Tai Baribo in the box, but the pass was intercepted by Christopher McVey. The ball deflected off of McVey onto the foot of a sprinting Dániel Gazdag, who took one touch and burried the ball into the bottom left of D.C. United’s goal.  The score at half-time was 2-0 in the favor of Philadelphia.

The Union’s Tai Baribo got into the scoring action in the 51st minute when Quinn Sullivan — once again– passed his defender, Boris Enow Takang, and lifted the ball  left directly at the unmarked Baribo, who headed the ball into goal for Philadelphia’s third score.

Finally, Dániel Gazdag earned his brace in the 69th minute when D.C.’s Mateusz Klich made a weak back-pass close to his box.  Baribo alertly intercepted it and passed to an open Gazdag, who in turn successfully shot left and scored.  The game ended with a 4-0 Philadelphia victory.

Photographs of the game appear below:

Mikael Uhre scoring the first Philadelphia goal. Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott heading the ball against D.C.’s Christian Benteke. D.C. United’s Gabriel Pirani bringing the ball downfield, covered by Philadelphia’s Jakob Glesnes.A vocal Mateusz Klich seeking some sort of response from his teammates.   Jack Elliott blanketed the dangerous Benteke, even as he heads the ball.Here, Quinn Sullivan pushes past D.C. United’s Boris Enow Takang, just before his assist for Tai Baribo’s score.Gazdag, Baribo and the newly-acquired Daniel Jean Jacques celebrate Gazdag’s second goal.