Philadelphia Union x CF Montreal
The Philadelphia Union secured a 2-0 victory over CF Montréal in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Friday night, thanks to two stoppage-time goals by Tai Baribo. Baribo's strikes in the added time of both halves propelled the Union into the Round of 16 for the second consecutive season.
The match, held at Subaru Park under damp conditions, marked the first time since April that Philadelphia had all their key players available. The Union's strong lineup, featuring Andre Blake in goal and a solid defense led by Nate Harriel, Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott, and Kai Wagner, helped keep a clean sheet against a determined Montréal side.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams creating chances. Montréal's Bryce Duke tested Blake early, but the Union goalkeeper made a crucial save to keep the score level. As the half drew to a close, Baribo capitalized on a rebound from a Samuel Adeniran shot to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead just before the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Philadelphia continued to press for a second goal, with Adeniran coming close on several occasions. However, it wasn't until the final moments of the match that Baribo sealed the victory. After a long ball over the top from Jack McGlynn, Baribo found himself in a one-on-one situation with the Montréal defense and calmly slotted home his second goal of the night.
[Photography by Trey Madara]