The Free Kick

Maryland's #1 Philadelphia Union podcast! Hosted by @ItsAToddLife & @JoserNunez91

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

With Milan Iloski out for the next two games with a hamstring injury, and Bruno Damiani suspended against Nashville due to yellow card accumulation, there is an opportunity for Malik Jakupovic, Agustín Anello and Ezekiel Alladoh.

Richter gave his thoughts after the match on Anello and Jakupovic's performance:

"I think Augie came in and brought good energy into the game. And especially when we go into this, if we go three in the back, I think he has a really important role to play in that. Because he’s a guy you can put on the left side and gives us an option there that maybe isn’t so similar to the other guys that we would put in that position. ...

"And then Malik the same. With every decision of when the guys come in, it’s what can we do to help the team win? And these guys have to continue to push every day in training, every opportunity that comes in the game. It’s pushing for more minutes. It’s pushing to move yourself into a position where you’re getting called upon more. I thought both the guys did a good job to bring good energy into the game."

[Joe Tansey @JTansey90]

Milan Iloski is OUT for the next two games with a hamstring injury he picked up on Saturday.

Ryan Richter says it’s not a long-term issue.

[Philadelphia Union @PhilaUnion]

2 years ago today we lost our teammate, Holden Trent 💙

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

On October 26, 2024, the death of Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Holden Trent was announced. He was just 25 years old.

Two years on, his fiancée, family, friends and teammates are ready to talk; to remember a man who "went through a battle every single day to be the person he was".

For more than two decades, Holden Trent defied debilitating medical conditions to reach professional status in the world's most competitive sport.

This is his story.

📝 @AdamCrafton_

🔗 https://t.co/ybIuuj0Qa4

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Episode 445 - Union Suffer First Loss Since May 24 in 2-1 Loss to New England #doop #mls https://t.co/4saPhHfZDO

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

The Union found themselves behind for only the fifth time in 16 games under interim head coach Ryan Richter. The Union pushed for the equalizing goal late into stoppage time, but it wasn't enough as they fell 2-1, ending their 15-game unbeaten streak.

Frankie Westfield talked about the grit of his team pushing for the equalizer.

"I think it’s very important to look at. We’re not going to give up. We haven’t given up this whole second half of the season. We’ve come from behind, and we know we can come back in big games like this. I think it’s going to help us move forward. Augie had a big chance. I had a couple big chances. Neil gets the goal, like you said. I just think that’s the grit that we want to show, especially that grit that’s going to be more important in the playoffs when we advance."

#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

Full video of the assist by the corner flag for Neil Pierre's fifth goal of the season.

#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

90+12' | GOAL NEIL PIERRE

Somehow the ball stays in play off the corner flag, Kai Wagner crosses the ball in for Pierre to head home.

Philadelphia 1-2 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

90+15' | Union chances from Agustín Anello and Frankie Westfield

Ref gives an extra three minutes of the initial 12 minutes of stoppage time, and the Union almost find the equalizer.

Philadelphia 1-2 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

90+12' | GOAL NEIL PIERRE

Somehow the ball stays in play off the corner flag, Kai Wagner crosses the ball in for Pierre to head home.

Philadelphia 1-2 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

Carles Gil converts the penalty

Philadelphia 0-2 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

Neil Pierre concedes a penalty to Carles Gil after the Spaniard stays inside his own half on his run.

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

Neil Pierre concedes a penalty to Carles Gil after the Spaniard stays inside his own half on his run.

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

86' | Malik Jakupovic chance

After a change of formation, the Union get their first real promising chance with Quinn Sullivan crossing to Jakupovic, who sees his shot blocked by Ethan Kohler and saved by Matt Turner.

Philadelphia 0-1 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

72' | Andre Blake save

The Union should be down by multiple goals tonight. Haven't done a good job winning the ball back with the midfield and defense looking sluggish.

Philadelphia 0-1 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

58' | Andre Blake save

A poor giveaway from Indiana Vassilev with his intended pass backwards for Kai Wagner catches the German for surprise. Carles Gil picks up the loose ball and curls a fantastic ball on target.

Philadelphia 0-1 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

45+3' | Goal Dor Turgeman

Union make a mess of this defensively, with nobody putting pressure on Carles Gil, who floats a ball into the 18 for Peyton Miller, who cuts inside Westfield. Nobody tracks Turgeman and it's a tap in at the back post.

Philadelphia 0-1 New England

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

32' | Andre Blake save

Andre Blake comes up big once again for the Union on another save on Dániel Gazdag. This is a play that should've been cleared away before Blake had to make the save.

Philadelphia 0-0 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

27' | Andre Blake save

New England do well in possession, with Carles Gil taking a terrific touch between Danley and Jovan Lukic, finds Dániel Gazdag, who sees his shot saved by the Jamaican goalkeeper.

Philadelphia 0-0 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

22' | Milan Iloski chance

Fantastic ball played down the touchline by Frankie Westfield for Milan Iloski, with the forward holding off a challenge from Josh Wynder and eventually seeing his shot saved by Matt Turner.

Philadelphia 0-0 New England
#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

10' | Union chance

Kai Wagner with a cross into Neil Pierre, who wins the header (surprise) for Bruno Damiani, who flicks to Quinn Sullivan, with the midfielder not able to get good contact. Westfield also with a chance moments later with the same result as Sullivan.

#doop

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Frankie Westfield to @kev_egan, @SachaKljestan, and @BWPNINENINE on believing that the season could be turned around during the second preseason:

"Hey, if you're not believing, what were you doing there?

No, I mean, listen, yeah, we were in a tough spot and I know the only way was up.

So just the way we started the second half,I think getting that feeling and getting that momentum back was the right thing that we needed.

And to say now that we can clinch a playoff spot tonight is amazing and we're all thankful.

But we're super ready for this opportunity tonight. We're not thinking anything of it.

We're ready to go out there and just put on a team performance to get the win tonight, which is most important, and to not think anything of the occasion, just playing the game."

#doop #USMNT #USYMNT #MLS
📹:APPLE|MLS