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Writer's pictureDave Miller

Report | LAFC 2-2 Phila Union

Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza put the Philadelphia Union ahead twice, but it was not enough as they were held to a 2-2 draw against LAFC at The Banc of California Stadium.


LAFC made two changes to the team that won late on against Minnesota. Jose Cifuentes came into the starting XI after scoring the second in the 2-0 win as he replaced Latif Blessing. Sebastien Ibeagha entered the lineup as Jesus Murillo was not involved in the matchday squad.

Philadelphia Union and Jim Curtin were forced into one change as Cory Burke came into the team in place of Mikael Uhre, who was suffering from quad soreness.


The hosts were on top of the game during the opening exchanges as Andre Blake was forced to get a fingertip on a shot from 20 yards, which guided it wide of the target.

However, against the run of play, Daniel Gazdag gave Philadelphia the lead in the ninth minute. Julian Carranza brought the ball towards the penalty area before playing it out wide to Kai Wagner. The left-back played a low cross towards the back post that evaded everybody before Gazdag popped up to find the bottom corner from close range.


Shortly after the half-hour mark, Jose Martinez came close for the Union with a speculative effort. After Wagner saw his initial cross get blocked, he decided to play the ball infield to Martinez the second time. The Venezuelan was in acres of space, so decided to shoot first time from distance. However, his effort flashed a little high and wide of the target.


On the stroke of half-time, Cristian Arango almost headed LAFC level. Carlos Vela's corner was won in the air by the forward, who managed to direct his header goalward. Fortunately for the Union, it bounced just wide of the goal.

HALF-TIME: LAFC 0-1 Philadelphia Union


In the 56th minute, Kwadwo Opoku smashed LAFC back level. Cifuentes received the ball on the D of the penalty area before playing a first-time pass to slip Opoku through. He got towards the corner of the six-yard box before blasting his effort beyond Blake at his near post, who was left with no chance.

Just ten minutes later, Julian Carranza regained the Philadelphia lead with a fantastic goal. Gazdag turned provider this time as his pass found the Argentinian just inside the penalty area. Carranza took a touch before bending his effort around Maxime Crepeau, giving the LAFC goalkeeper no chance thanks to his excellent technique.


Sergio Santos, who had replaced Burke just before the goal, nearly made it three for the Union. Wagner's cross found the forward on his own inside the penalty area, but his glancing header went over the crossbar.

Franco Escobar levelled for LAFC after being the first to latch onto a rebound. Blake was able to make the initial save from Cifuentes' header, but he could not reset himself quickly enough for the rebound as Escobar was the first to react and smash it home.


There was a moment of late panic as Mamadou Fall almost won the game in sensational fashion for the hosts. A cross into the box sat perfectly for the defender, who opted to shoot via a bicycle kick. However, any worry or danger was averted as Jakob Glesnes came storming in to clear away.


FULL-TIME: LAFC 2-2 Philadelphia Union


LAFC: Crepeau, Escobar, Ibeagha, Fall, Palacios, Sanchez (Blessing 74'), Vela, Cifuentes (Ginella 89'), Acosta, Opoku (Musovki 73'), Arango

Unused Substitutes: McCarthy, Hollingshead, Jennings, Leone

Philadelphia Union: Blake, Harriel, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner, Martinez (McGlynn 77'), Bedoya, Flach, Gazdag, Burke (Santos 65'), Carranza

Unused Substitutes: Freese, Real, Findlay, Mbaizo, Bueno, Aaronson, Sullivan

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