Uhre scores but Union fall to Inter Miami CF

With Damion Lowe, José Martinez, and Daniel Gazdag away with their respective national teams, Philadelphia Union sent out a new-look Starting XI featuring Homegrown Jeremy Rafanello, who made his first home start and his third this season. The 24-year-old filled in for Gazdag at the No. 10 spot, joining fellow Homegrown Quinn Sullivan and Danish Designated Player Mikael Uhre on the attacking end. Leon Flach and team captain Alejandro Bedoya manned the midfield, while the defense started with a second-time centerback pairing. With Lowe away and Jack Elliott suspended for the match after picking up a second-half red card against CF Montreal, Homegrown Nate Harriel shifted to centerback alongside Jakob Glesnes, as he did earlier in 2024 against Pachuca during Concacaf Champions Cup play. Olivier Mbaizo took over Harriel’s typical right back spot opposite Kai Wagner creating a starting backline to protect Major League Soccer rookie Oliver Semmle in net. The German keeper made his 12th? start for the Union, holding down the position as Andre Blake continued his recovery from meniscus surgery.

Inter Miami was without three players due to national team duty as well – Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas weren’t part of Miami’s matchday roster, causing some shake up in their starting group as well.

Philadelphia Union started hot, finding the back of the net in the third minute by way of Uhre. Glesnes found the ball in Philadelphia’s defensive end, taking it up through the middle then sending it ahead with a perfectly weighted pass to Uhre, darting toward Drake Callender in net. While being chased down by Tomas Aviles and Julian Gressel, Uhre smartly took his time and ran slightly left, drawing the keeper just long enough to place the ball into the back right corner. The goal made for the Union’s quickest claimed lead this season, putting them ahead 1-0 early in front of a packed Subaru Park crowd.