The Ball is Round. The Place is Philly.
Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
No one who only saw the tie score could know what a scrappy, hard fought, crazy game unfolded tonight north of the border. The Union entered this match on a two-game unbeaten run, and they were looking to capitalize on some of the positives. Toronto was unbeaten in six after opening the campaign with back-to-back losses. For a talented team in good form, and with Walker Zimmerman returning to the lineup, Toronto was favored for this midweek clash.
First Half
A scrappy first half, which saw two yellows dealt to Toronto FC players in the first 17 minutes, tilted toward the Union. Their movement and interplay caused serious problems for Toronto, and Philadelphia had the better part of possession and chances for the first 20 minutes. Westfield took two free kicks from dangerous areas, and came close to scoring both times. The Union used width in attack and clogged up the middle in defense. But Toronto grew into the game, and started to create chances for themselves in the second part of the half, where it was all hands on deck–Harriel saved a sure goal off the line in the 36th minute, and Sery Larsen’s perfectly timed block deflected an on-target Josh Sargent shot, keeping the clean sheet.
Despite no goals for either side, it was a good contest, with a lot of back and forth. In the final minutes of first half stoppage time, Lukic released a sprinting Milan Iloski through the center, who cut through three defenders and took his goal confidently. It was the kind of play the Union is famous for, and it came off perfectly. Despite the goal advantage, the Union couldn’t go confidently into the dressing room because Toronto did not let up, getting two dangerous looks on goal before the half. But they held on, and the Union led, 0-1.
Second Half
The scrappy, choppy play continued, but Union pressure kept the ball in the the Reds’ half. In the 52nd minute, Danley Jean Jacques pounced onto a pass in the Reds’ box. His goal was emphatic, ricocheting off his shin and into the goal, putting the Union up 0-2.
But Toronto refused to be cowed by the scoreline, and they began to find pockets of space in the midfield and willing runners on the wings. Only four minutes later, Josh Sargent strode into the box and fired to Blake’s left, putting the score at 1-2.
Jean Jacques continued to disrupt and force errors for the Union, but it was the Reds’ Kobe Franklin who would get the equalizer in the 64th minute after some intricate passing and movement. 2-2.
The Union continued to press, and Toronto continued to pass through the middle once they had broken the high press. But it was the Union who went ahead in the 89th minute. Pressure forced the Reds to concede a corner. Jose Bueno sent his kick to the near post, Bedoya flicked it on and Harriel headed it home to put Philadelphia ahead. 2-3
In the sixth minute of five minutes of stoppage time, Toronto sent their goalkeeper Luca Gavran forward for a free kick. As the cross flashed across the six-yard box, Gavran rose above the crowd and nodded it home. 3-3. It was the last kick of the game.
3 Points
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake, Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Japhet Sery Larsen, Frankie Westfield, Jesus Bueno, Danley Jean Jacques, Jovan Lukic (Malik Jakupovic 83’), Indiana Vassilev (Alejandro Bedoya 65’), Bruno Damiani (Ezekiel Alladoh 79’), Milan Iloski (Cavan Sullivan 82’).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Geiner Martinez, Phillipe Ndinga, Ben Bender, Jeremy Rafanello.
Toronto FC: Luka Gavran, Zane Monlouis, Walker Zimmerman (Lazar Stefanović 65’), Alonso Coello, Richie Laryea, Kobe Franklin, Jonathan Osorio, Dániel Sallói, José Cifuentes, Josh Sargent, Deandre Kerr (Malik Henry 54’)
Substitutes not used: William Yarbrough, Derrick Etienne Jr., Raheem Edwards, Markus Cimermancic, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, Reid Fisher, Emilio
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Chris Wattam, Nick Balcer
Fourth Official: Fabrizio Stasolla
VAR: Ismir Pekmic
VAR Assistant: Tom Felice
PHI – Milan Ilsoki (Lukic) 45’+4
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (unassisted) 52’
TOR – Josh Sargent (Sallói, Cifuentes) 56’
TOR – Kobe Franklin (Cifuentes) 64’
PHI – Nathan Harriel (Bedoya, Bueno) 89’
TOR – Luka Gavran (Coello, Sallói) 90’+6
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
TOR – Jonathan Osorio (caution) 7’
TOR – Dániel Sallói (caution) 16’
TOR – Alonso Coello (caution) 46’
TOR – Richie Laryea (caution) 49’
PHI – Japhet Sery Larsen (caution) 61’
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (caution) 65’
PHI – Olwethu Makhanya (caution) 78’
PHI –Alejandro Bedoya (caution) 90’+3
Philadelphia Union continues its road trip on Saturday night with a matchup against the Columbus Crew. Kickoff from Ohio is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on April 25th.
James has a lifelong (at times tempestuous) love affair with the game. He has been a player and coach, and he has been a Union fan for more than ten years.
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The Philly Soccer Page was created in 2009 to celebrate soccer and educate readers throughout the Philadelphia Region.
Match Report: Toronto F.C. 3 – 3 Philadelphia Union – The Philly Soccer Page
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