Kai Wagner scored an early goal and Kacper Przybylko added a game-winner in the second half to cancel out another tally from Rodolfo Pizarro and send the Philadelphia Union to the Knockout Stage of the MLS is Back Tournament with a 2-1 win over expansion side Inter Miami CF in Group A play on Tuesday.
Wagner put Philadelphia on top after just five minutes, following an attempted cross from Brenden Aaronson that took a deflection and trickled all the way through the penalty box, allowing Wagner to run on to it and smash the ball past Inter Miami goalkeeper Luis Robles from just outside the area.
The expansion side found their equalizer via Pizarro, though, as the star Mexican international collected a feed from Matias Pellegrini and poked the ball past Blake to finish off a well-worked counterattack.
Przybylko would find the winner, however, as the Union got loose on a counterattack of their own which culminated with the Polish forward placing a clinical finish past Robles. Inter Miami had two narrow misses at another leveler, first after a penalty kick was awarded in the 75th minute when referee Silviu Petrescu whistled Philadelphia's Jakob Glesnes for a handball in his own box, but the call was overturned on Video Review. Roman Torres then had a late header go off the post, allowing the Union to see out the 2-1 final.
Goals
- 5' - PHI - Kai Wagner | WATCH
- 36' - MIA - Rodolfo Pizarro | WATCH
- 63' - PHI - Kacper Przybylko | WATCH
Man of the Match
Aaronson is one of the top young players to watch in the tournament, and he showed why in this contest, as the 19-year-old put in an active shift in the midfield.
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Philadelphia certainly seem very much legit, as they've now won both their tournament games and also have an impressive road result against mighty LAFC to their name in 2020. The six points officially have them through alongside Orlando City SC onto the Knockout Stage. Miami find themselves still searching for their first MLS points in their expansion season, as they've now lost all four of their matches, but their record isn't entirely reflective of how they've played. Diego Alonso's men have been competitive, but a bit unlucky and done in by some individual mistakes, giving reason for hope the points will start to come.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Przybylko's goal was both a class finish and the game-winner as he looks to build on his 15-goal, four-assist campaign from last season.
- YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Pizarro got the goal for Miami, but it was a brilliant charging run and pass from Lewis Morgan that started the whole thing on an all-around gorgeous sequence.
Next Up
- PHI: Monday, July 20 vs. Orlando City SC (8 pm ET | TUDN, Twitter in US; TSN in Canada)
- MIA: Monday, July 20 vs. New York City FC (9 am ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada)
