2023 Philadelphia Union season

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 →

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.

Previous season

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

Preseason exhibitions

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 Yellow card 40'
Vrioni Yellow card 57'
Report Gazdag 35'
Glesnes Yellow card 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

Major League Soccer

Standings

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
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

February 25 1 Philadelphia Union 4–1 Columbus Crew Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30PM EST Gazdag 45+3' (pen.), 72' (pen.)
Flach Yellow card 47'
Carranza 52', 80'
Report Glesnes 28' (o.g.)
Morris Yellow card 39'
Sands Yellow card 43'
Hernández Yellow card 56'
Zelarayán Yellow card 59'
Degenek Yellow card 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 Yellow card 30'
Jean 32'
Taylor 77'
Report Flach Yellow card 21'
Martínez Yellow card 24'
Bedoya Yellow card 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 Yellow card 45+2' Martínez
Yellow card 61' Elliott
Yellow card 74' Bedoya
90', Yellow card 90+3' Torres
Yellow card 96' Sullivan
Report Yellow card 12' Terán
Yellow card 38, 94' Yellow-red card Kamara
Yellow card 42' M. Navarro
Yellow card 45+2, 50' Yellow-red card 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.), Yellow card 43', 90+8'
Wanyama Yellow card 18'
Zouhir Yellow card 43'
Offor 90', Yellow card 90+7'
Report Glesnes Yellow card 2'
Uhre 46', 60'
Carranza Yellow card 58, 69' Yellow-red card
Bedoya Yellow card 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 Yellow card 48'
Acosta 69' (pen.)
Report Mbaizo Yellow card 21'
Blake Yellow card 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
Yellow card 66' Herbers
Yellow card 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 Yellow card 36'
Carranza Yellow card 63'
Report Insigne Yellow card 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 Yellow card 25'
Burke Yellow card 68'
Report Gazdag 31' (pen.)
Flach Yellow card 36'
Sullivan Yellow card 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 Yellow card 18'
Ronan 38'
Abubakar Yellow card 42'
Cabral Yellow card 62'
Nicholson Yellow card 79'
Barrios Yellow card 90+9'
Galván Red card 90+9'
Report Bedoya Yellow card 21'
Flach Yellow card 41'
Wagner 45+2'
Carranza 52'
Elliott 90+9'
Glesnes Yellow card 90+9'
Bueno Red card 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 Yellow card 9'
Martínez Yellow card 90+3'
Report Williams Yellow card 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 Yellow card 90+3'
Report Blessing Yellow card 4'
Wood Yellow card 45'
Gil Yellow card 73'
Altidore Yellow card 84'
Romney Yellow card 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 Yellow card 38'
Thiago Martins Yellow card 52'
O'Toole Yellow card 61'
Report Glesnes Yellow card 30'
Carranza 45+1', 45+3'
Gazdag 53' (pen.)
Uhre Yellow card 69'
Bueno Yellow card 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 Yellow card 59'
Kahlina 70' (o.g.)
Report Westwood Yellow card 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 Yellow card 88'
Report Campbell Yellow card 31'
Thorkelsson Yellow card 76'
Miljevic Yellow card 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
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

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.

U.S. Open Cup

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

CONCACAF Champions League

Round of 16

March 7 First leg Alianza El Salvador 0–0 United States Philadelphia Union San Salvador, El Salvador
8:00 pm EST Report Bueno Yellow card 41'
Lowe Yellow card 65'
Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlán
Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)
March 14 Second leg Philadelphia Union United States 4–0
(4–0 agg.)
El Salvador 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

April 4 First leg Philadelphia Union United States 1–0 Mexico Atlas Chester, United States
8:00 PM EDT Gazdag 89' (pen.) Report Santamaría Red card 45+5'
Abella Yellow card 64'
Lozano Yellow card 88'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)
April 12 Second leg Atlas Mexico 2–2
(2–3 agg.)
United States 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

April 26 First leg Philadelphia Union United States 1–1 United States Los Angeles FC Chester, United States
9:00 PM EDT Martínez Yellow card 63'
Gazdag 86' (pen.)
Report Acosta Yellow card 84', 90+1' Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,676
Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)
May 2 Second Leg Los Angeles FC United States 3–0
(4–1 agg.)
United States 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

Group stage

Standings

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PHI QFC TIJ
1 United States Philadelphia Union 2 2 0 0 0 8 2 +6 6 Advance to knockout stage 5–1 3–1
2 Mexico Querétaro 2 1 0 0 1 2 5 −3 3
3 Mexico Tijuana 2 0 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0 0–1
Source: Leagues Cup
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Results
July 22 Group stage 1 Philadelphia Union United States 3–1 Mexico Tijuana Chester, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Oshane Nation
July 26 Group stage 2 Philadelphia Union United States 5–1 Mexico Querétaro Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Daneion Parchment
August 3 Round of 32 Philadelphia Union United States 0–0
(5–4 p)
United States 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 United States 1–1
(4–3 p)
United States 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 United States 2–1 Mexico 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 United States 1–4 United States 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 United States 3–0 Mexico Monterrey Chester, Pennsylvania
6:00 pm ET
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,778
Referee: Juan Calderón

References

  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.