By Canadian Press

Philadelphia Union score early and often in 4-2 win over outmatched Toronto FC

Apr 22, 2023 | 6:53 PM

CHESTER, Pa. — Danish international forward Mikael Uhre scored a hat trick as the Philadelphia Union snapped a five-game league winless run in dispatching Toronto FC 4-2 in MLS play Saturday.

Philadelphia (3-4-2) also got an own goal from TFC’s Lukas MacNaughton. Toronto (1-2-6) had its seven-game unbeaten run (1-0-6) snapped in suffering its first loss since a 3-2 defeat at D.C. United in the Feb. 25 season opener.

Alejandro Bedoya, Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag each had two assists for Philadelphia, which led 4-0 after 56 minutes before taking its foot off the pedal for the remainder of the game.

The lone bright spot for Toronto was a 66th-minute goal by Lorenzo Insigne, marking his first start since suffering a groin injury in the season opener. Jonathan Osorio found him behind the Philadelphia defence and the Italian star curled a shot past Andre Blake to make it 4-1.

Richie Laryea added a consolation goal in stoppage time, cracking a shot past Blake.

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But Toronto was second-best from the get-go on a wet night at Subaru Park. It was one-way traffic with Philadelphia outshooting Toronto 15-2 (4-1 in shots on target) in the first half.

Philadelphia has won its last four home games against Toronto while outscoring TFC 16-2.

The Union have been inconsistent in league play this season, juggling the demands of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with a semifinal against Los Angeles FC looming Wednesday. Against TFC, however, they looked like the team that finished runner-up to LAFC in the Supporters’ Shield race last season.

Severe weather in the area promoted a “shelter-in-place” mandate before the game. Fans were urged to remain in their cars until the order was lifted with those already in Subaru Park asked to remain on the concourse. The order was lifted about 40 minutes before kickoff.

It was 16 degrees and raining at kickoff, with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect.

Insigne and fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi both started for Toronto for the first time since the season opener. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty slotted into TFC’s starting lineup with Jordan Perruzza and Alonso Coello dropping to the bench.

Insigne, Bernardeschi and Marshal-Rutty formed Toronto’s attack but had little chance to do much with Philadelphia firmly in control.

Insigne returned last week, making a 14-minute came off the bench in the 2-2 draw with visiting Atlanta. Bernardeschi has played every game this season but was a question-mark for Saturday after being listed as questionable with a lower body injury.

Insigne played 85 minutes before giving way to Kosi Thompson.

Philadelphia had conceded the first goal in seven of its eight league outings this year but came out with purpose and went ahead in the 16th minute after TFC ‘keeper Sean Johnson made a fine save to deny Gazdag from in-close. The ball bounced out to defender Sigurd Rosted whose attempted clearance hit MacNaughton and flew into the Toronto goal.

There was more suspect defending in the 20th minute after Toronto failed to clear a Philadelphia cross. Johnson kept the ball in play but couldn’t get through Carranza to gather it. The ball came back in front of goal and Uhre’s shot deflected in off the unfortunate MacNaughton.

The goal, which came despite seven Toronto defenders in the box, survived a lengthy video review but Canadian VAR official Geoff Gamble with Johnson claiming he had been fouled in the buildup to the goal.

The Toronto defence was shredded again in the 43rd minute with Uhre, put in alone with a teammate by Gazdag, beating a helpless Johnson. Uhre made it 4-0 in the 56th, beating Osorio to a Carranza cross for his fifth goal of the season.

Uhre exited to cheers in the 61st minute.

Toronto came into the game having tied four straight — and with a league-high six draws in their previous seven games.

TFC was without injured captain/midfielder Michael Bradley, fullback Cristian Gutierrez, centre back Matt Hedges, midfielder Victor Vazquez and forward Adama Diomande.

Osorio captained Toronto again in Bradley’s absence.

Philadelphia threatened early with Carranza off-target with a header and shot in the eighth and ninth minute.

Up 2-0, the Philadelphia onslaught continued with Jack McGlynn hammering a shot off the Toronto crossbar in the 26th minute. The Union had a two-on-one on a 34th minute counterattack but failed to convert.

A 37th-minute goal by Gazdag was negated by the offside flag. Insigne, with TFC’s first shot on target, had a chance in first-half stoppage time but Blake made the save.

Toronto coach Bob Bradley withdrew MacNaughton and Bernardeschi, who had been listed as questionable before the game with a lower body injury, at halftime. Shane O’Neill and Perruzza came on.

The moves helped with Perruzza curling a shot just wide in the 53rd. But Carranza threatened minutes later, only to see Johnson close him down just in time.

With Philadelphia up 4-0, Bob Bradley went to his bench again to bring on Coello and Kobe Franklin. Blake made a fine save to deny Insigne in the 77th.

Toronto, which was 2-11-4 in league play away from home last season, had yet to win on the road this year at 0-2-3. Philadelphia, which was unbeaten at home last year (12-0-5), is 3-1-1 at Subaru Park this season.

On Earth Day, both teams wore their One Planet kits made of a recycled material “created from reimagined plastic waste.”

Toronto hosts New York City FC next Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2023.

The Canadian Press