Union clinch first place in Eastern Conference
October 9, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Philadelphia Union News Release
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union played Toronto FC Sunday afternoon at Subaru Park on MLS Decision Day, winning 4-0. With the win, the Union clinched the first seed in the Eastern Conference with 67 points and earned a Round One bye as well as home field advantage throughout the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, setting a record for most wins in a single season in club history with 19. With 49 home goals scored this season, the Union tied the MLS record for most home goals in a single season. With 26 goals conceded, they also set the MLS record for the fewest goals allowed in a single season. Midfielder Daniel Gazdag opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a right footed volley from outside of the box, taking him to 20 goals on the season.The Union would double their lead in the 42nd minute, when forward Mikael Uhre slotted a right footed shot into the back of the net. With an assist on the second goal, midfielder Daniel Gazdag became the 6th player in MLS history to have at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season. Defender Olivier Mbaizo ensured a scoreless half from Toronto with a goal line save late in the first half. Early into the second half the Union were awarded a penalty, where midfielder Daniel Gazdag was able to claim his 21st goal of the season. Shortly after, Gazdag registered his 22nd goal of the season after a right footed shot from the center of the box to beat the Toronto keeper for his third goal of the afternoon and earn his second hat trick of the season. Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered his 15th clean sheet, ending the season with the most clean sheets in the league.
The Union have a first round bye in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs and will head straight to the Eastern Conference Semifinals (Time and date TBD).
Philadelphia Union 4 – Toronto FC 0
Subaru Park (Chester, PA)
Sunday, October 9, 2022
TODAY’S MATCH INFO
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Joshua Encarnacion
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Ast. VAR: Eric Weisbrod
Weather: 63 degrees and sunny.
GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (unassisted) 4′
PHI – Mikael Uhre (Gazdag) 42′
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (PK) 60′
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (unassisted) 63′
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
TOR – Michael Bradley (caution) 29′
TOR – Chris Mavinga (caution) 65′
TOR – Federico Bernardeschi (caution) 81′
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Matt Real, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jose Martinez (Quinn Sullivan 86′), Leon Flach, Jack McGlynn (Alejandro Bedoya 74′), Daniel Gazdag; Mikael Uhre (Cory Burke 67′), Julian Carranza.
Substitutes not used:Matt Freese; Nathan Harriel, Brandan Craig, Paxten Aaronson, Chris Donovan.
Toronto FC: Quentin Westberg; Chris Mavinga, Lukas MacNaughton (Doneil Henry 68′), Luca Petrasso (Themi Antonoglou 61′), Shane O’Neill, Michael Bradley, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Noble Okello (Ayo Akinola 61′), Jesús Jiménez (Hugo Mbongue 68′) , Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Federico Bernardeschi (Jayden Nelson 85′).
Substitutes not used: Deandre Kerr; Kadin Chung, Ifunanyachi Achara, Alex Bono.
TEAM NOTES
Midfielder Daniel Gazdag scored his 20th goal and registered his 10th assist of the season and became the sixth player in MLS history with at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season. He also became the 33rd player in Union history to make 50 regular season starts with the club.
With 26 goals conceded, the Union have set a new record for the fewest goals allowed in a season.
With a 12-5-0 record, the Union were the only team to remain unbeaten at home this
season.
With 72 goals scored this season the Union broke their previous record of 58 in 2019.
Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered his 15th clean sheet, ending the season with the most clean sheets in the league.
Three players started all 34 games this season (Andre Blake, Daniel Gazdag, Jakob Glesnes), the first team to have three players start 34 games in a regular season since the Union in 2019 (Jack Elliott, Ray Gaddis, Haris Medunjanin)
The Union produced the second-best defensive season in MLS history at 0.76 goals conceded per game.
The Union scored 49 home goals this season, tying the MLS record for most home goals in a single season.
Forward Mikael Uhre scored his 13th goal this season.
The Union have a first round bye in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs and will head straight to the Eastern Conference Semifinals (Time and date TBD).
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