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Remember when the Union were riding high after two straight lopsided wins over NYCFC and DC United? Remember how it still felt like the playoffs were an inevitability? Well just like that the Union now head into Decision Day with only one point in their last three and thanks to MLS being MLS still have a chance to make the postseason. They just have to win and root for a Montreal or DC United loss. No big deal, right? If you’re getting USMNT before they failed to qualify for the World Cup vibes you’re not alone.

In the email today:

1. 🛝 Playoffs Slipping Away

The Philadelphia Union will need a win on Decision Day at home against FC Cincinnati and some help after being dealt another blow to their playoff chances with a loss in Columbus on Saturday night.

Prior to kickoff, the Union got an assist from Inter Miami beating Toronto FC but they fell behind early and were unable to stage a second half comeback against a Cucho Hernandez-led Crew team that wrapped up second place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 win and made it three wins out of three in all competitions against the Union this season.

Now the Union face a must-win on the final day of the season at home and will need DC United or CF Montreal to lose in order to grab the 9th playoff spot.

Getting a result at Lower.com Field was always going to be a tough task but the Union dug themselves an early hole when Cucho Hernandez connected on a header off a corner kick and put the ball past Andre Blake in the 4th minute. Cucho had a bid to double the lead soon after but Blake was there to make one of a couple key stops on the night for the boys in blue.

The Union answered on a set piece of their own when Jack Elliott’s driven free kick created a long rebound that Nathan Harriel was able to hit in across the goal mouth in the 25th minute to restore hope but Mohamed Farsi splashed some cold water on that feeling when he set up and finished a chance with a put back on a Blake rebound in the 41st.

Cucho went back to work on the corner kick to find the Crew a third goal in the 76th minute with a headed ball past Blake that seemed to seal the result. But moments after taking the 3-1 lead the Crew had a rare moment of sloppy play in the back that led to a Jack McGlynn chance inside the D he was able to strike clean to make it 3-2 with 12 minutes to go.

With the momentum of scoring off the bench driving him, McGlynn nearly connected on another shot in a similar location off a feed from Quinn Sullivan but his shot went wide of the mark. McGlynn would also have a late crack at the goal on a dangerous free kick but it was a chance he and Kai Wagner created for Daniel Gazdag that was the most haunting chance of the night. Gazdag was in on goal in a good spot but his attempt went high of the mark.

The Gazdag chance was a kind of summary of the Union’s season, where the downs have outnumbered the ups and the one thing that felt like a sure thing every year – making the playoffs – feels like anything but. Yes, there is a benefit to having 9 teams make the playoffs in the conference because there is something still to play for for teams in the Union’s predicament but the Union’s loss coupled with a DC United win on Saturday means there will be some intense scoreboard watching for Union fans to do at Subaru Park on Decision Day October 19.

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2. 🐍 Union II to Host Playoff Game

For as much of a slog this Philadelphia Union season has been, Philadelphia Union II has been a consistently fun distraction. They’ve been winning games, scoring goals and have fun doing it with the Bridge Brigade cheering on their every move.

Yes, the results are less important in the grand scheme of the Union lifting a real trophy and the league is more semi pro than pro but wins are wins and playoffs are playoffs.

Union II wrapped up their 2024 campaign with a loss in Chicago yesterday so they had to settle for second place but they’ll get a chance to play at home through the early stages of the playoffs thanks to their 15-9-4 record. Just three teams in Next Pro had a higher point total than Union II’s 52 - first place FC Cincinnati 2 (54), North Texas (62) and St. Louis City 2 (56).

MLS Next Pro will be hosting a live show on Tuesday where Union II will learn their opponent but for now just pencil in Sunday, October 20 on your calendar and head down to Subaru Park.

While stats aren’t everything, here are a few highlights of the Union II’s now completed regular season.

Goals: Eddy Davis III (13), CJ Olney (6), Frankie Westfield (6)
Assists: Olney (8), Westfield (6), Cavan Sullivan (4), David Vazquez (4)
Key Passes: Olney (49), Westfield (35), Vazquez (25), Kyle Tucker (24), Sullivan (21)
Minutes: Westfield (2,313), Jamir Berdecio (1,983), Olwethu Makhanya (1,935)

3. 🦷 Tweet of the Day: Still a Chance

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Do They Deserve It?

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• VE beat Colonial SC on Sunday to advance in US Open Cup qualifying. Greg Oldfield has the recap. West Chester United, Kensington SC and Alloy SC won their qualifiers on Saturday and will join VE and Ukrainian Nationals (bye) in Round 3 later this month.

• Jose Nunez has a rundown of where some of the Union players will be playing during the international break.

• Philadelphia Soccer Now photographer Don Robson has a gallery of photos he captured during the Union’s last home game.

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