Philadelphia Union secure playoff spot amid scoreless draw
A goal by Daniel Gazdag for New England sealed the Union's berth while the home team managed a 0-0 result against Nashville.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
The Philadelphia Union have officially qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs. The team secured its place in the postseason on Wednesday evening, ending a season that began with a 1-10-4 record at the World Cup break. The clinch occurred during the Union's 0-0 draw with Nashville SC at Geodis Park. The result leaves the Union in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 13-11-8 record and 47 points. They sit four points ahead of Orlando and Cincinnati, ensuring they will not be overtaken in the remaining matches.
The qualification was determined by events at a different stadium. Daniel Gazdag, the Union's all-time leading goalscorer, scored the winning goal for New England in a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls. This result, which occurred around the halftime of the Union's match, mathematically eliminated the possibility of the Union dropping out of the top seven spots in the East. New England's win also moved them into second place, pushing Inter Miami into third.
The path to the playoffs began in May when interim coach Ryan Richter took over for Bradley Carnell on May 21. Under Richter, the Union have recorded 12 wins, one draw, and four losses in 17 games. This turnaround has placed the team in the postseason after three previous attempts to clinch a spot on matchday failed. The team is set to visit Cincinnati on Saturday for their next fixture. They remain within striking distance of fifth-placed Charlotte, which has 50 points after defeating Montreal.
The 90 minutes in Nashville produced little excitement. Nashville, the Supporters' Shield winners, rested key players Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge for the first hour. The visitors held 63 percent possession but managed only nine shots, with just one finding the target. The Union, missing Milan Iloski, Bruno Damiani, and Cavan Sullivan, countered with six shots, two of which were on target. The defensive line featured a starting duo of Ezekiel Alladoh and 17-year-old Malik Jakupovic, who made his first MLS start in the match.
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake recorded his 15th clean sheet of the season in the 60th minute when he saved a header from Neil Pierre. This milestone makes Schwake the fourth goalkeeper in MLS history to reach 15 clean sheets in a season, joining a list last updated by Andre Blake in 2022. The only notable defensive save by the Union came in the 88th minute, when Andre Blake caught a header from Surridge off a long throw. Mukhtar also had a shot blocked by substitute Frankie Westfield in stoppage time, which was considered Nashville's best chance of the night.
Richter emphasized the team's focus on the upcoming match against Cincinnati rather than celebrating the playoff berth. He noted that the team has maintained a policy of focusing on one game at a time since he assumed the coaching role. "We would say one game at a time," Richter said regarding the mindset when he first took the position. He added that the team is proud of the second-half performance but is already preparing for the next challenge. The Union's next match is scheduled for Saturday against the Cincinnati club.
Nashville's point in the match moved them within three points of the MLS single-season record. The team has accumulated 44 home points this season out of a possible 48. They have three more points available in a weekend match against the Red Bulls. The Union's 0-0 result was their fourth clean sheet under Richter's management. The coach stated that the team performed well in preventing goals, citing a collective team effort in maintaining a scoreless draw against a high-possession opponent.
