The Philadelphia Union and Charlotte FC met for the third time in two months to open group East 4 play in the 2024 Leagues Cup. With all the familiarity between both teams, one could have expected scoring chances would be fleeting.
And that was exactly what occurred on a clear night at Subaru Park as the Union defeated Charlotte, 1-0.
Both teams combined for only one shot on goal in the first half, but the Union were able to cash in that one shot for 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
Olivier Mbaizo, Samuel Adeniran, and Daniel Gazdag combined for a sequence down the right flank that took Gazdag down to the endline. The Hungarian No. 10 snapped back a seeing-eye grounder with inches to spare that found Tai Baribo all alone at the far post. Baribo needed only to pass the ball into the net.
“We talked about crosses and cutbacks all week,” said Union coach Jim Curtin. “And playing a good, early cutback before they are set up. That goal was an example of that.”
It was the seventh goal in the last eight matches for the Israeli international.
The first five minutes of the second half had as much action as the first, with both teams generating good scoring chances.
Adeniran was on the receiving end of another piece of Gazdag magic, but his shot found the hands of the Crown’s Kristijan Kahlina. Charlotte’s best chance came when Iuri Tavarez sprang Patrick Agyemang down the left flank.
Agyemang, who scored a brace on his last visit to Subaru Park, kept his run into the 6-yard box, but Union defender Jack Elliot parried Agyemang’s shot with a perfectly timed tackle. Charlotte never mounted another real threat and finished the night with seven shots, none on target.
With Charlotte committing more troops to find an equalizer, the Union came closest to adding a second in the 84th minute on a well-executed counter. Quinn Sullivan delicately tiptoed down the right touchline and found Baribo alone in the box. His near post effort forced a great save from Kahlina.
In a tightly contested defensive match, Baribo was the offensive standout with 3 shots and the lone goal. His effort was not lost on Curtin.
“He has tirelessly worked and fought for every minute, and from minute one to minute 90 he is a pain in the butt to play against.” Curtin said. “We’re proud of where he’s at, and I know he will only get better and better as he gets even more used to playing those reps with the first team guys.”
The win places Philadelphia in the East 4 driver’s seat. Charlotte, on the other hand, will have to get a result against LIGA MX leaders Cruz Azul on Wednesday in Charlotte to avoid elimination.
