The long-awaited rematch of the Eastern Conference Final was set. Philadelphia Union was eager to prove that things were just a matter of luck last season. But the defending champions came with good momentum themselves, with back-to-back wins in the playoff rounds. Two narratives clashed to create a perfect storm to fuel a growing rivalry between both teams. Despite all of this one thing was clear, the team that made a mistake was the one who would pay the heaviest price. It may be a bit dramatic, but trust me when I tell you that it was exactly how the match was decided.
The end of the road
In true “The Last Dance” fashion it was as if Philadelphia took it personally. Throughout the week social media fueled the revenge narrative to build up momentum ahead of the match. It all became more evident as I walked around the stadium, the Philly fans wanted a win more than anything. They made sure home advantage was definitely a factor as the match started. From fireworks to icons like Carli Lloyd were motivating enough to gain the upper hand. Luckily NYCFC had their loyal fans behind them, but it was bound to be an uphill battle nonetheless.
The first half was clear evidence that Philadelphia had studied NYCFC’s tactics very closely. Maxi was unable to find the connections to create any attacking play and the tension to avoid a mistake didn’t allow the team to play with enough liberty. The Union kept a high press system with the intention to force a mistake. Within 15 minutes they managed to score off a corner kick, but it was ruled out due to an offside position. Unfortunately, the goal shook the team, and it turned out to be a preview of what was to come. Despite this, NYCFC did manage to have a sense of control throughout the first half and the score remained level going into halftime.
The second half became a rollercoaster of emotions. It was clear that NYCFC had to take the initiative, it was the only way Philadelphia was going to leave space to attack. The team was eventually going to have an opportunity to score, so they had to capitalize on it at all costs. Within 15 minutes of the second half, NYCFC managed to get ahead on the scoreboard. A perfect counterattack that allowed Maxi enough space to find Tinnnerholm down the wing. Philadelphia unable to position themselves defensively, gave Maxi room to find the bottom corner of the net. It was the first time that the “magician” was able to score in back-to-back games, it looked as if things would work out for the team. The game plan was simple (at least from my perspective), play with Philadelphia’s urgency and maintain the momentum for as long as possible. There was no need to rush, it was important to keep a cool head and play smart. It’s safe to say that NYCFC would have probably sealed the game if the header by Callens wasn’t saved by Blake in a follow-up play. Little did we know that it would signal the beginning of the end for the defending champions.
The game-defining moment came in the 64th minute. In an effort to hold the result, Keaton Parks came in for Gabriel Pereira, a move that in a matter of seconds proved costly for NYCFC. The hosts happened to have the ball at the moment of the substitution, so they moved the ball quickly and caught everyone out of position. The game was tied and things just went from bad to worse. Philadelphia took complete control of the match and in a matter of 12 minutes sealed the game. A solid 3-1 victory by Philadelphia displayed how one mistake demoralized the defending champions. From defensive mistakes to tactical disasters led to a very painful defeat. Would things have been different if that substitution wasn’t made? In the heat of the moment, I would have said yes. But having a few days to analyze things I keep my answer but offer a variation. I would have pushed for the substitution to be made later in the second half, but instead of Keaton, I would call on Thiago Andrade. First, I believe we could have made a man-to-man substitution. This would allow the team to have “fresh legs” in attack and using his speed could have caused the team to score the second goal. I can probably go on about what could have been done differently, but the result remains, the championship run comes to an end.
Looking ahead
As the season came to an end it’s time to reflect on the ups and downs of the season. At the moment of writing, days have passed but the defeat is still fresh (I’m a fan above all). While it’s painful to revisit what went down on Sunday, I can say that the team had a good season. Losing your best striker and the manager midseason is something that many teams are not able to recover from. NYCFC managed to push through and made it all the way to the conference finals. I say it’s a decent way for the defending champion to bow out. I also value that unbeaten run at home earlier in the season with great performances at home. It was great to see the atmosphere that the fans brought to Queens and winning the Campeones Cup. Lifting a trophy during the season not only signaled the success the team has had over the last year, but it also turned out to be a turning point for the team. Interim or not, Cushing managed to imprint his coaching idea, something many thought wouldn’t happen. Finally, I would like to point out that luck plays a part in every sport. With that being said, I’m sure that if injuries didn’t condition the lineups ahead of many of the matches where the team dropped points, the story would have been different. Trust me when I say that If Talles Magno was available for Philadelphia the outcome would have been different.
Looking ahead to what the offseason might bring, we’re already seeing moves happening. Tinnerholm has announced that he will be leaving at the end of the season. Alexander Callens is also expected to start negotiations for a new contract, and Maxi Moralez looks to have extended his stay an extra year, but nothing has been confirmed. It’s no secret that with what happened this season the team will have to look for reinforcements during the break. The main focus that everyone seems to agree with is the need for a striker. Whether they reinforce that line is yet to be seen, but for now, that seems to be the point of focus.
Personally speaking, It was great to take part in NYCFC II’s inaugural run. Looking at some of their players taking part in the first team is very rewarding. Covering the Campeones Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League is also something I will cherish. Especially since the team won’t see any action in both competitions next season. While I would have liked the outcome of the match in Philadelphia to be different, I’m happy I took on the challenge and covered the match. But above all, I want to thank everyone for their support throughout this season. All the likes, retweets, and shares only help me continue to push for more challenges and new experiences.
GRACIAS Y NOS VEREMOS PRONTO!