The Battle of the East: Philadelphia vs Inter Miami

Aug. 16, 2023, 1:30 a.m. Sports

The Battle of the East: Philadelphia vs Inter Miami

In the MLS is Back tournament, the Philadelphia Union entered as the East’s top seed. They had just come off a Supporters’ Shield-winning season in which they lost just four games. Inter Miami, on the other hand, were the East’s last seed. They had expansion to thank for that, as they had only joined the league in 2020. In their inaugural season, they had lost more games than they had won. So, when these two teams met in the tournament’s Round of 16, it was seen as a mismatch.

The Union had other ideas. They had lost just one of their last 14 games, and they were not going to let an expansion team stop them from progressing in the tournament. The game started well for the Union, as they took the lead in the 12th minute through Kacper Przybylko. It was a lead that they would hold onto for the rest of the game, as they defensive line held firm. Inter Miami did have some good chances, but they were unable to find a way past Andre Blake in the Union goal.

The Union are now through to the quarter-finals, where they will face Orlando City. It is a tough task, but one that they will be confident of winning. As for Inter Miami, they will be left to wonder what might have been. They showed that they can compete with the best teams in the league, but they will need to turn those performances into results if they are to make the playoffs in their second season.