If Sunday’s loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps was a bullet to the head, then the defeat to Nashville SC on Wednesday was the final nail in the coffin of the Philadelphia Union. The misery of the Major League Soccer leaders intensified as they were eliminated from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in a 3-1 semifinal loss to Nashville SC at Geodis Park. It was their second consecutive loss in three days, with ten goals conceded.
Union falls to Nashville in Open Cup Semifinal.
The 7-0 loss to Vancouver proved too big to bounce back easily from, as all hopes of an immediate recovery were soiled in some 84 minutes of brilliance from Sam Surridge and the Nashville SC team. He tortured Philly's defense with three lethal strikes, just three days after Vancouver’s Thomas Müller had similarly dealt with them.
With the win, Nashville feasted on the Union to mark an MLS season that’s been one of the best in its history. They not only set a club record for wins in all competitions (19) but also scored 62 goals so far this season, which is also a club record for the most goals scored in a single season.
After the half-hour mark, Nashville proved why they’d emerged victorious against Philadelphia in their previous two matches this season, with a Sam Surridge goal that Jeisson Palacios assisted. A long throw-in towards the Union goal found Palacios, whose header towards Surridge created a free header situation for the Englishman. It helped him convert the ball into the empty net.
The MLS top scorer struck with another free header again, 14 minutes later, early into the second half. This time, Andrew Rick saved a parallel shot that bounced off his gloves to a point where Sam Surridge could connect his head to the ball to the top left corner of the goal post.
Just before Surridge’s third of the night, the Union fought back with a wonder strike from the substituted Quinn Sullivan in the 70th minute. His shot from outside the box curled beyond the keeper’s reach to the top right corner to give Philly their lone goal.
And when the Union were minutes away from a possible equalizer, Sam Surridge completed his hat-trick, netting his 26th goal of the season in all competitions. In the 84th minute, a cross from Dan Lovitz a few yards from the midfield line and around the left hand side of the pitch found a running Surridge, who hit a volley in the box towards the top left corner of the goal post. There was little to be expected from a helpless Andrew Rick, who was once again let down by his defenders.
Surridge’s 26 goals this season helped him tie Hany Mukhtar for most goals in all competitions by a Nashville player in club history, while sending Nashville to their first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.
With four games left to the end of the season, the Union will hope to tighten their grip on the Supporters' Shield and end their horrible run when they host the New England Revolution on Saturday at Subaru Park.
Be sure to return to Philly Sports Network for more Philadelphia Union and other soccer content!
Follow our Union team on Twitter:
Tim Lovenguth | Jimmy King | Nate TennesenSteve Beavon | Eric Frysinger | Paul FrenzelTomiwa Aderinoye | Christopher Babos | Liam Jenkins
Doop on Union fans!
