The Philadelphia Union have advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history, defeating Nashville SC in penalty kicks at Subaru Park on Sunday after the game ended 1-1 after regular and extra time. In the first half of their Eastern Conference Semifinal, the sides traded goals, with Hany Mukhtar scoring for Nashville and Daniel Gazdag tying it for the Union right before halftime. Through 120 minutes, those were the only goals, and Philadelphia won the penalty kick shootout 2-0 after Nashville missed all four of their attempts from the spot, two of which were saved by Philadelphia goalie Andre Blake.

For all of the first half, the Union were in control, but Nashville scored against the run of play on 38 minutes. Mukhtar scored the game's first goal, running onto the end of Eric Miller's perfect cross and nodding past Blake. Philadelphia, on the other hand, came back to tie the game right before halftime. After a corner ball from Jamiro Monteiro popped up in front of goal, Alistair Johnston blocked Gazdag's first attempt, but the Hungarian midfielder tracked down his own rebound and slotted in a turning finish past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.

During the second half, the Union had two good chances to take the lead, the first coming in the 62nd minute from replacement Sergio Santos, who found himself alone behind Nashville's backline on the left side but had his close-range chip drift wide. In the 77th minute, Gazdag thought he had scored his second goal, but his converted volley from a corner kick was disallowed due to a foul right before the shot. Despite various half-chances on both sides, the 1-1 score remained unchanged throughout regulation and two periods of extra time. Blake's heroics in the next penalty-kick shootout set the tone, as the outstanding Union goalkeeper saved each of Mukhtar's and Anibal Godoy's first two shots. Alex Muyl and Walker Zimmerman both skied their tries wide, allowing Philadelphia's converted shots by Jack Elliott and Jack McGlynn to send them through.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Trey Madara]