2023 Philadelphia Union season

The 2023 Philadelphia Union season was the club's fourteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his tenth season with the club. The club's regular season began on February 25, 2023, and concluded on October 9. Outside of MLS, Philadelphia will participate in the U.S. Open Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, and the Leagues Cup.

Philadelphia Union
2023 season
OwnerKeystone Sports & Entertainment
Head coachJim Curtin
StadiumSubaru Park (Capacity: 18,500)
MLSEast: 4th
Overall: 5th
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupRound of 32
CONCACAF Champions LeagueSemifinals
Average home league attendance18,907[1]
← 2022
2024 →

Previous season edit

The club finished second in the Supporters' Shield standings and first in the Eastern Conference.[2] The Union appeared in their first MLS Cup, where they lost to Shield winners Los Angeles FC in a penalty shootout.[3]

Non-competitive edit

Preseason exhibitions edit

January 21 Philadelphia Union 3–2 Austin FC Bradenton, FL
12:00 pm EST Bedoya   45+4'
Bueno   67'
Donovan   80'
Report Cascante   27'
Noel   54'
Stadium: IMG Academy
Attendance: 0
January 24 Philadelphia Union 2–2 St. Louis City SC Orlando, FL
4:00 pm EST Wagner   9'
Portella   75'
Report Klauss   41'
Gioacchini   86'
Stadium: UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
Attendance: 0
January 27 Philadelphia Union 2–2 Minnesota United FC Orlando, FL
Lod  
Pacheco  
Report Carranza  
Gazdag  
Stadium: UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
Attendance: 0
February 5 New England Revolution 0–2 Philadelphia Union Lakewood Ranch, FL
12:00 pm EST Blessing   40'
Vrioni   57'
Report Gazdag   35'
Glesnes   40'
Bueno   71'
Stadium: Premier Sports Complex
Attendance: 0
February 10 FC Cincinnati 1–3 Philadelphia Union Clearwater, FL
12:00 pm EST Vazquez   56' (pen.) Report Torres   10'
Carranza   49'
Gazdag   61' (pen.)
Stadium: Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex
Attendance: Not reported
February 13 Nashville SC 2-0 Philadelphia Union
February 18 Philadelphia Union 4–1 Colorado Rapids Davenport, FL
1:00 pm EST Gazdag   49'
Harriel   102'
Torres   106' (pen.)
Donovan   125'
Report Cabral   108' Stadium: ChampionsGate Sports Complex
Note: 135-minutes (3 45-minute periods)

Competitive edit

Major League Soccer edit

Standings edit

Eastern Conference edit
MLS Eastern Conference table (2023)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
2 Orlando City SC 34 18 7 9 55 39 +16 63 Qualification for Round One
3 Columbus Crew 34 16 9 9 67 46 +21 57
4 Philadelphia Union 34 15 9 10 57 41 +16 55
5 New England Revolution 34 15 9 10 58 46 +12 55
6 Atlanta United FC 34 13 9 12 66 53 +13 51
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall table edit
Overall MLS standings table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
3 Columbus Crew (C) 34 16 9 9 67 46 +21 57 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16[a]
4 St. Louis City SC 34 17 12 5 62 45 +17 56 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[b]
5 Philadelphia Union 34 15 9 10 57 41 +16 55 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[c]
6 New England Revolution 34 15 9 10 58 46 +12 55 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[d]
7 Seattle Sounders FC 34 14 9 11 41 32 +9 53 Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32[e]
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(C) MLS Cup champion
Notes:
  1. ^ As 2023 MLS Cup champions
  2. ^ As 2023 Western Conference regular season champions
  3. ^ As 2023 Leagues Cup third place
  4. ^ As second highest-ranked club in 2023 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
  5. ^ As one of the top seven teams in the overall table to not qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup

Regular season edit

February 25 1 Philadelphia Union 4–1 Columbus Crew Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30PM EST Gazdag   45+3' (pen.),   72' (pen.)
Flach   47'
Carranza   52',   80'
Report Glesnes   28' (o.g.)
Morris   39'
Sands   43'
Hernández   56'
Zelarayán   59'
Degenek   71'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,510
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
March 4 2 Inter Miami CF 2–0 Philadelphia Union Fort Lauderdale, Florida
7:30PM EST Yedlin   30'
Jean   32'
Taylor   77'
Report Flach   21'
Martínez   24'
Bedoya   79'
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 15,628
Referee: Chris Penso
March 11 3 Philadelphia Union 1–0 Chicago Fire Chester, Pennsylvania
8:30PM EST   45+2' Martínez
  61' Elliott
  74' Bedoya
  90',   90+3' Torres
  96' Sullivan
Report   12' Terán
  38, 94'   Kamara
  42' M. Navarro
  45+2, 50'   Herbers
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,520
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
March 18 4 CF Montréal 3–2 Philadelphia Union Montreal, Quebec
7:30 PM EDT Quioto   3' (pen.),   43',   90+8'
Wanyama   18'
Zouhir   43'
Offor   90',   90+7'
Report Glesnes   2'
Uhre   46',   60'
Carranza   58, 69'  
Bedoya   90+6'
Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 23,352
Referee: Nima Saghafi
March 25 5 Philadelphia Union 1–2 Orlando City SC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,725
Referee: Allen Chapman
April 1 6 Philadelphia Union 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Chester, Pennsylvania
8:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,550
Referee: Victor Rivas
April 8 7 FC Cincinnati 1–0 Philadelphia Union Cincinnati, Ohio
7:30PM EDT Mosquera   48'
Acosta   69' (pen.)
Report Mbaizo   21'
Blake   69'
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Ted Unkel
April 15 8 Chicago Fire 2–2 Philadelphia Union Chicago, Illinois
9:30PM EDT   19' Haile-Selassie
  47' (o.g.) Harriel
  66' Herbers
  90+5' Giménez
Report   62' (pen.) Gazdag
  65' Carranza
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 12,811
Referee: Ismail Elfath
April 22 9 Philadelphia Union 4–2 Toronto FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT MacNaughton   16' (o.g.)
Uhre   20', 43', 56'
Elliott   36'
Carranza   63'
Report Insigne   45+1',   66'
Laryea   90+2'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,533
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
May 6 10 New York Red Bulls 0–1 Philadelphia Union Harrison, New Jersey
7:30PM Reyes   25'
Burke   68'
Report Gazdag   31' (pen.)
Flach   36'
Sullivan   45+7'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 18,712
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
May 13 11 Colorado Rapids 1–2 Philadelphia Union Commerce City, Colorado
7:30 PM Wilson   18'
Ronan   38'
Abubakar   42'
Cabral   62'
Nicholson   79'
Barrios   90+9'
Galván   90+9'
Report Bedoya   21'
Flach   41'
Wagner   45+2'
Carranza   52'
Elliott   90+9'
Glesnes   90+9'
Bueno   90+14'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 15,006
Referee: Victor Rivas
May 17 12 Philadelphia Union 0–0 D.C. United Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 EDT Carranza   9'
Martínez   90+3'
Report Williams   48' Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,689
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
May 20 13 Philadelphia Union 3–0 New England Revolution Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT Gazdag   56',   74' (pen.)
Carranza   88'
Real   90+3'
Report Blessing   4'
Wood   45'
Gil   73'
Altidore   84'
Romney   90'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,079
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
May 27 14 New York City FC 1–3 Philadelphia Union New York, New York
7:30PM EST Pereira   37'
Gray   38'
Thiago Martins   52'
O'Toole   61'
Report Glesnes   30'
Carranza   45+1',   45+3'
Gazdag   53' (pen.)
Uhre   69'
Bueno   83'
Stadium: Citi Field
Attendance: 22,830
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
May 31 15 Philadelphia Union 1–0 Charlotte FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT Lowe   59'
Kahlina   70' (o.g.)
Report Westwood   12' Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,705
Referee: Ted Unkel
June 3 16 Philadelphia Union 3–0 CF Montréal Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT Carranza   12',   61'
Uhre   36'
Martínez   88'
Report Campbell   31'
Thorkelsson   76'
Miljevic   88'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,245
Referee: Jon Freemon
June 10 17 San Jose Earthquakes 2–1 Philadelphia Union San Jose, California
10:30 PM EDT Ebobisse   8'
Trauco   57'
Report Lowe   17' Stadium: PayPal Park
Attendance: 15,512
Referee: Nima Saghafi
June 21 18 Orlando City SC 2–2 Philadelphia Union Orlando, Florida
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 17,516
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
June 24 19 Philadelphia Union 4–1 Inter Miami CF Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,535
Referee: Malik Badawi
July 2 20 Atlanta United FC 2–0 Philadelphia Union Atlanta, Georgia
4:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Attendance: 43,527
Referee: Ted Unkel
July 8 21 LA Galaxy 3–1 Philadelphia Union Carson, California
10:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 21,269
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
July 12 22 Nashville SC 0–2 Philadelphia Union Nashville, Tennessee
8:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Sergii Boiko
July 15 23 Philadelphia Union 2–1 New York City FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,363
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
August 26 24 D.C. United 1–3 Philadelphia Union Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 19,215
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
August 30 25 Toronto FC 3–1 Philadelphia Union Toronto, Ontario
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 25,410
Referee: Mark Allatin
September 3 26 Philadelphia Union 4–1 New York Red Bulls Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,361
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
September 16 27 Philadelphia Union 2–2 FC Cincinnati Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,365
Referee: Ismail Elfath
September 20 28 Charlotte FC 2–2 Philadelphia Union Charlotte, North Carolina
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
Attendance: 28,584
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
September 23 29 Philadelphia Union 0–0 Los Angeles FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,738
Referee: Allen Chapman
September 27 30 Philadelphia Union 1–1 FC Dallas Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,515
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Note: Match originally scheduled for August 20
September 30 31 Columbus Crew 1–1 Philadelphia Union Columbus, Ohio
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Lower.com Field
Attendance: 20,456
Referee: Jon Freemon
October 4 32 Philadelphia Union 3–2 Atlanta United FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,605
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
October 7 33 Philadelphia Union 0–0 Nashville SC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,387
Referee: Armando Villarreal
October 21 34 New England Revolution 2–1 Philadelphia Union Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 41,355
Referee: Tori Penso

MLS Cup Playoffs edit

October 28 Round One Philadelphia Union 3–1 New England Revolution Chester, Pennsylvania
5:00 pm EDT
Report
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
Attendance: 19,778
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
November 8 Round One New England Revolution 0–1 Philadelphia Union Foxborough, Massachusetts
7:00 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 15,214
Referee: Drew Fischer
Note: Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.
November 25 Conference semifinals FC Cincinnati 1–0 Philadelphia Union Cincinnati, Ohio
8:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Ismail Elfath

U.S. Open Cup edit

May 9 Round of 32 Minnesota United FC (MLS)   3–3 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p)
  Philadelphia Union (MLS) Saint Paul, Minnesota
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Allianz Field
Attendance: 4,216
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Penalties

CONCACAF Champions League edit

Round of 16 edit

March 7 First leg Alianza   0–0   Philadelphia Union San Salvador, El Salvador
8:00 pm EST Report Bueno   41'
Lowe   65'
Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlán
Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)
March 14 Second leg Philadelphia Union   4–0
(4–0 agg.)
  Alianza Chester, United States
8:00 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 8,145
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)
Note: Philadelphia Union advance 4–0 on aggregate.

Quarter-finals edit

April 4 First leg Philadelphia Union   1–0   Atlas Chester, United States
8:00 PM EDT Gazdag   89' (pen.) Report Santamaría   45+5'
Abella   64'
Lozano   88'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)
April 12 Second leg Atlas   2–2
(2–3 agg.)
  Philadelphia Union Guadalajara, Mexico
8:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Estadio Jalisco
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Note: Philadelphia Union advance 3–2 on aggregate.

Semi-finals edit

April 26 First leg Philadelphia Union   1–1   Los Angeles FC Chester, United States
9:00 PM EDT Martínez   63'
Gazdag   86' (pen.)
Report Acosta   84',   90+1' Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,676
Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)
May 2 Second Leg Los Angeles FC   3–0
(4–1 agg.)
  Philadelphia Union Los Angeles, United States
7:00 PM PDT
Report
Stadium: BMO Stadium
Attendance: 19,985
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)
Note: Los Angeles FC advance 4–1 on aggregate.

Leagues Cup edit

Group stage edit

Standings edit

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PHI QFC TIJ
1   Philadelphia Union 2 2 0 0 0 8 2 +6 6 Advance to knockout stage 5–1 3–1
2   Querétaro 2 1 0 0 1 2 5 −3 3
3   Tijuana 2 0 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0 0–1
Source: Leagues Cup
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Results edit
July 22 Group stage 1 Philadelphia Union   3–1   Tijuana Chester, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Oshane Nation
July 26 Group stage 2 Philadelphia Union   5–1   Querétaro Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Daneion Parchment
August 3 Round of 32 Philadelphia Union   0–0
(5–4 p)
  D.C. United Chester, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm ET
Report Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Penalties
August 8 Round of 16 Philadelphia Union   1–1
(4–3 p)
  New York Red Bulls Chester, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Víctor Alfonso Cáceres Hernández
Penalties
Note: Postponed from August 7 at 7:30 pm ET due to thunderstorm forecast in the area.
August 11 Quarterfinals Philadelphia Union   2–1   Querétaro Chester, Pennsylvania
9:09 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Mario Escobar
Note: Match delayed from 8:00 pm to 9:09 pm due to a power outage at Subaru Park.
August 15 Semifinals Philadelphia Union   1–4   Inter Miami CF Chester, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,778
Referee: Daniel Quintero Huitrón
August 19 Third Place Philadelphia Union   3–0   Monterrey Chester, Pennsylvania
6:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,778
Referee: Juan Calderón

References edit

  1. ^ Kennedy, Paul (October 22, 2023). "MLS breaks attendance record". Soccer America. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Tannenwald, Jonathan (October 2, 2022). "The Union lost a game in Charlotte, the Supporters' Shield to LAFC, and Kai Wagner to a suspension". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Tannenwald, Jonathan (November 5, 2022). "Union lose MLS Cup final heartbreaker to LAFC in penalty kick shootout after 3-3 tie". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2022.

External links edit