The Philadelphia Union lost for just the second time this season last night but despite leaving Fort Lauderdale empty handed the did at least prove the point that they aren’t that far behind the ballyhooed stars of Inter Miami. In fact, had the boys in blue had their finishing boots on (and Kai Wagner to deliver his punishing crosses) they might have just stolen a point or three. The Messi effect was in play - his goal two minutes after subbing on ended up being the difference - but sloppy play from the hosts and valiant sweeper keeping from Andre Blake and that Philly tough refusal to go away were on full display.

In the email today:

1. 🌴 Unfinished Business

The Philadelphia Union outshot Inter Miami 20-6 and made things interesting up until the end but ultimately weren't able to overcome the Messi effect in the star's return to the pitch, which he marked with the game-winning goal two minutes after entering the match on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale.

The Union were in search of their third road victory of the season and nearly found their way back from a 2-0 deficit in an early marquee match-up between teams that entered the night at or near the top of both the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield tables.

Playing through the vaunted Union high press with quick passes and pace on the ball, the hosts were able to rattle the Union defense early with chances from Fafa Picault, who nearly set up an opener with a strong run and cross and clanged a header off the post before Robert Taylor was able to grab the lead in 23rd minute with a finish on some intricate combination play in the final third.

After giving way the early chances and the goal, the Union defense - with Frankie Westfield filling in for the injured Kai Wagner at left back - started to settle in and the offense began finding more of the moments that have been commonplace in the early going for one of the league's most prolific attacks. Unlike their multi-goal road outings at Orlando City and New England, however, the slew of chances led to frustrating shake-your-head moments instead. Wagner's absence should not be downplayed, of course, and was perhaps most notable on dead balls and in transition moments after winning the ball back in dangerous spots. Still, the attack did more than enough to create the chances they needed to spoil Inter Miami's night.

From Mikael Uhre not getting enough of a ball slid to him in the D by Gazdag to Tai Baribo heading a chance right at the keeper to Chris Donovan getting a would-be equalizer on a high percentage shot blocked, the points were certainly there for the taking. Statistically, the Union would finish the night with a 2.5 xG to Miami's 1.9 and outshoot the hosts 20-6 overall (6-3 on target) but if not for the connection of Quinn Sullivan to Daniel Gazdag, who took a great first touch to set up his goal-scoring shot in the 80th minute, the game would've felt significantly worse than a two-goal defeat.

Andre Blake playing sweeper keeper to deny Picault  in the open field and Luis Suarez making a meal of a chance served up by Messi were just two examples of how Miami could've blown the game open. There were also some head scratching referee decisions and moments where the game was a series of whistles and players writhing on the ground in pain, nursing varying degrees of real or simulated injuries. There were also plenty of bright moments on either side of the ball and reason still to believe that the Union are closer to upper tier contender than mid-to low table pretender.

The Union return home to face Orlando City for the second time this season on Saturday night at Subaru Park.

2. 🎤 Carnell’s Take: Post-Game Quotes

A tale of two halves
“I thought the game was two halves, a little bit passive in the first half, not quite what we wanted to do on the game plan. But yeah, credit to the boys for, you know, turning the page in the second half and making a game of it. And yeah, we give away two big moments and concede two goals, you know, on another day, I think we walk away here with at least a point, or could have been able to walk away with three points.”

Halftime Substitute: Lukic for Vassilev
“We wanted to correct a couple of things through video. And we needed a little bit through the middle of the field when we had the ball. It was just very tactical that to bring Indy on so we could try and progress through the layers a little bit more, through the thirds, a little bit more. And I thought we started tightening the screw. I thought we started to get some more turnover. I thought with the changes we made at halftime, there was a little bit more directness in our proactive press, and a little bit more on the front foot, and a little bit more brave. So we corrected that. And then, you know, then it was time to bring Bruno and Donna on, and that was the way we got momentum back in the game.

Cavan Sullivan
“We're trying to get Cavn on the field as much as we can and give him moments. So we had to put him in the window in terms of getting him on the bench and doing those logistics. And, yeah, there's an opportunity. Unfortunately, we just couldn't make it work tonight.”

Ian Glavinovich over Makhanya
“I don't think we are comparing notes and saying who should be starting, who should not be starting. I think we're just progressing Ian's minutes. And now Ian survived a big, big shift tonight. It was a big transitional game, a very open game of back and forth. And I checked in with him towards, you know, the 75th-80th minute, and he said he was fine. So I'm really happy to have got him those minutes. And we changed the whole system, the whole structure at the at the end there just to, you know, throw the kitchen sink at it a little bit, and we still created a little bit more momentum with, with Indy out wide and Quinny out more, a little bit more wider, with three center backs. So, yeah, you know, we trying to just get ways to to push the needle here when we're a goal down.”

3. 👀 Social Post of the Day: Suar-what

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Player Ratings

Rate the players and coach Carnell and share your thoughts on last night’s loss in Fort Lauderdale in our Player Ratings Poll.

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Reading United unveiled its new jerseys and celebrated 30 years at a special event last week at Sly Fox in Wyomissing.

• Philadelphia Union II made it three draws in three games to start the season with a 2-2 tie in Alabama on Friday night. Sal Olivas and Cavan Sullivan found the back of the net for the visitors.

• Charles Boehm chronicles Tai Baribo’s journey to the top of the MLS scoring charts in this piece for the MLS website.

• The much lauded Union Juniors program that was an early entry point for many of the Union’s biggest homegrown stars is relaunching in the fall. The club neutral program enables the academy to ID players at the younger age groups while still playing for their local clubs.

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