🎥 Philadelphia Union dethrone NYCFC in East to reach MLS Cup final | OneFootball

Philadelphia Union will contest their first-ever MLS Cup final after a come-from-behind win over New York City in the Eastern Conference final on Sunday.

Scorers: Carranza 65′, Gazdag 67′, Burke 76′; Moralez 57′

On a revenge mission after losing to NYCFC at the same stage last year, Union started the game well on top.

It seemed the Supporters’ Shield winners had taken the lead on the quarter-hour mark through Dániel Gazdag, but the offside flag quickly dampened the celebrations at Subaru Park.

From there it became an attritional affair, with 17 fouls committed before the half-time whistle.

It took a moment of brilliance to finally break the deadlock early in the second half.

After a superb team move, that began with an arrowed pass by goalkeeper Sean Johnson, Maximiliano Moralez applied the finishing touch with a fabulous low drive from just outside the area.

The Pigeons would have extended their lead just moments later had Andre Blake not produced a superb save to repel a powerful header from Alexander Callens.

Despite being rocked back on their heels, Philadelphia recovered brilliantly to draw level through Julián Carranza. The Argentine caught the NYCFC defence napping by latching on to a clever quick free-kick from Jakob Glesnes before slotting home.

And the hosts hit the front soon after when Jack McGlynn’s cross found Carranza at the back post, and he nodded into the path of the unmarked Gazdag who finished with aplomb from close range.

With NYCFC chasing an equaliser, substitute Cory Burke stretched Philadelphia’s lead by rifling to the net as the ball fell back to him following his initial penetrating dribble from midfield.

The defeat ends NYCFC’s hopes of back-to-back MLS Cup successes, while Philadelphia will travel to face Western Conference champs LAFC next Saturday.