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Running Out of Headlines to Explain This Incredible Philadelphia Union Run
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The Union won again, 2-1 this time over Real Salt Lake at the Soob.
Check out the dummy on the opener:
It’s a Bruno Damiani goal with a primary assist from Frankie Westfield and a hockey assist from Cavan Sullivan. Minor pet peeve, maybe you agree, maybe you don’t, but I always felt like a good dummy should go down as an assist. Milan Iloski doesn’t touch the ball, but the deception there does more for the goal than either pass.
Also, RSL tried a bold strategy on that sequence. They unveiled the “let’s leave the striker completely unmarked” strategy, and it did not work. Surprise!
With the Eagles and Flyers currently playing like butt and the Phillies once again going out with a whimper, the Union remain on fire. They are so hot right now that it could amount to self-immolation. This is Human Torch levels of heat right now.
That’s 13 games unbeaten going all the way back to July 22nd, the end of the World Cup break. They’ve won seven games in a row. Both of those are franchise records. The 2020, 2022, and 2025 teams never put together streaks like this. They’ve taken 35 of 39 points during this run, which is insane. And interim head coach Ryan Richter has never lost since replacing Bradley Carnell over the World Cup break.
They’ve climbed all the way from 15th in the Eastern Conference to 6th. They’re now five points ahead of Orlando and the clump of Red Bull/Cincy/NYC/Toronto. They’re four points behind Charlotte and six behind their next opponent Chicago, so that game is a classic six-pointer.
This team has completely saved their season because they weren’t afraid to fire the coach. It also helps when you bring back Kai Wagner, who is a top-3 Union player of all time, maybe top-2.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com