You are free to call it an exorcism, an evisceration, or a humiliation. Whatever you choose to call what Philadelphia Union did to a helpless D.C. United is welcomed.
D.C. United side on Friday evening at Subaru Park should describe the 7-0 score line as a demolition if self-shaming was a rule in soccer.
The score line was the first time in the history of the Philadelphia Union. It was the most goals the Union had ever scored in a game and also matched the biggest winning margin in MLS history.
During the game, Julian Carranza scored a hat trick which easily could have been four or five. Alejandro Bedoya scored a pair of goals in the first half, while Mikael Uhre scored two goals also to complete the 7-0 assault.
Coach Jim Curtin changed four players from the lineup that played Columbus Crew to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, returning to the 4-4-2 formation.
While Jose Martinez was freed from suspension and Nathan Harriel took the place of Olivier Mbaizo at left-back, Mikael Uhre and Julian Carranza started in the top position.
Quinn Sullivan, Paxten Aaronson, Jack McGlynn, and Brandan Craig are the four Philadelphia Union players who have played abroad but they were on the bench on Friday.
THE LARGEST WIN IN PHILADELPHIA UNION HISTORY 😳
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 9, 2022
Watch all 7️⃣ goals here pic.twitter.com/3sJQ4cfo2y
On Alumni Night, former Union captain Brian Carroll sounded the drum, and a cloudy sky welcomed kickoff at Subaru Park.
Only nine minutes had passed before Alejandro Bedoya gave the Union the lead. A Union player passed the ball to Jose Martinez, who noticed Bedoya making a run off the right-wing after successfully forcing D.C. into their half.
The captain received the exquisite pass lofted directly to his feet, and with the finish bearing down on goal, he made no errors. The goal was Bedoya’s 20th goal for the Union.
Philadelphia completely outplayed the disorganized D.C. team through the first 20 minutes and Julian Carranza gave them a well-deserved second goal.
Jack Elliott misfired on a shot from a corner, but the ball bounced high and directly into an unmarked Carranza in front of the United goal. The teenage striker scored after Rafael Romo was defeated by a bicycle kick, ending a two-month goalless streak. The rout went on.
When Nathan Harriel outran everyone and raced for a goal, including the goalkeeper, he should have added a third goal, but his attempt mysteriously missed the target. But the long-sought third goal eventually materialized a short while later.
Bedoya scored a header to make it 4-0 after Wagner took a free-kick and passed to him after just 37 minutes.
Philadelphia Union made it 5-0 in the first half with a goal from Uhre. He later scored another goal in the 59th minute before Carranza completed his hat-trick to take the scoreline to 7-0.
