Despite Supporters’ Shield-Winning Season, MLS Cup Remains Elusive for the Union

The Philadelphia Union finished the regular season with 66 points — the most in Major League Soccer. In almost any other soccer league, they would already be lifting a trophy. But MLS is not like most leagues, and in a system where playoffs reign, the Union’s season ended far earlier than expected.

Philadelphia was upset in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday, falling 1–0 to an undermanned yet familiar foe: New York City FC. The decisive moment came in the 27th minute, when longtime Union nemesis Maxi Moralez, the 38-year-old Argentine playmaker, finished off a well-crafted team move to put NYCFC ahead for good.

The Union dominated the second half, applying pressure and outshooting NYCFC 18–5 while generating an overall 1.99 expected goals to NYCFC’s 0.81. But despite wave after wave of attacks, they couldn’t find the equalizer.

“We could have, should have gotten something out of the game,” head coach Bradley Carnell said afterward. “ [It’s] just unfortunate that we didn’t. They have an excellent goalkeeper between the sticks.”

NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, a Wayne, PA native who began his career with the Union, delivered a standout performance against his former club, continuing the form that has earned him the U.S. national team’s starting job. It was a full circle moment from the two teams’ 2021 playoff meeting, when Philadelphia, shorthanded due to COVID-19 protocols, were forced to start an inexperienced Freese. Since moving up the I-95 to New York,  he has developed into one of MLS’s elite keepers.

This time, it was NYCFC coping with a crowded injury report. The visitors were without starting defensive midfielders Andrés Perea and Aiden O’Neill, as well as striker Alonso Martínez, who led the team with 17 goals in the regular season.  The road won’t get any easier from here for the short-handed roster. Next up? A date with Lionel Messi and a red-hot Inter Miami in the Conference Finals. 

For the Union, an offseason of change appears inevitable. Saturday’s match began with a party-like atmosphere at Subaru Park — from the “Beast of the East” tifo to an extended pregame fireworks show — but once again, Philadelphia’s postseason frustrations resurfaced. One of MLS’s most consistently successful clubs in recent years, the Union still awaits its first MLS Cup. Their closest call came in 2022, when they fell to LAFC in a forgettable 3-0 penalty shootout loss.

With striker Mikel Uhre out of contract after the season and top scorer Tai Baribo the subject of transfer rumors, the front office will likely need to look for outside help to bolster the attack. 

They could also look inwards. A generational prospect is waiting in the wings: 15-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan, whose late-game entrance drew a roar from the crowd. Touted as one of the top American prospects in a generation, Sullivan has already agreed to join Manchester City when he turns 18, meaning the Union should get the most they can out of him while they still can. 

Despite the disappointing early exit, the Union remains confident in their program, already looking ahead to the 2026 season. “The fairytale came to an end tonight,” said Carnell. “I’m really proud of this group.”