#philadelphia-union

#philadelphia-union

Philadelphia Union put one foot in the last 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after cruising to a 5-0 away victory over Defence Force in the opening leg of their first-round tie. It took 29 minutes for the MLS side to get themselves in front, which they did in impressive fashion through a Milan Iloski free-kick. Club-record signing Ezekiel Alladoh and Olwethu Makhanya both scored headers either side of half-time to put Union in full control of the contest.

Werner is in no man's land of situations. RB Leipzig has moved on from him, he is still young enough to contribute, and became such a meme that no big club appears to want to take the chance to help him revive his career. It's going to happen isn't it? Union sporting director Ernst Tanner has a background in working with the Red Bull organization after all.

According to a recent report by The Guardian, Tanner made racist comments about Black players, coaches and referees, while also making use of sexist and anti-gay language in the workplace. The report revealed the allegations were made in an MLS Player's Association complaint to the league. MLS previously completed an investigation into the allegations, but closed the case after failing to verify the claims.

Why they'll win it: A cohesive vision. No matter how the regular season finishes, the Union's managerial gamble for 2025 paid off. By firing Jim Curtin and hiring Bradley Carnell in his place, sporting director Ernst Tanner fully leaned into his plan for the club and his vision has been realised by a team that favours direct, vertical attacks and a high-tempo style. They boast a go-to striker in Tai Baribo, whose 16 league goals go a long way to explaining Philadelphia's Shield standing.

Fraser praised his team's resilience, noting that despite conceding early, they fought back to secure a draw against Philadelphia, thus keeping postseason hopes alive.

"I know the team is in first in the East and in the Supporters' Shield standings, so I want to come and help. I want to win."

Carnell emphasizes the importance of treating people well, stating, 'One of the best things I've learnt from Chris is how he treats people and puts people first.'

"Winning games helps momentum, it helps the vibe and the feeling around the cap. We have always thought we were on the right track."