⚽️ Playoffs Clinched But Union Want So Much More

_{LAST MATCH: Union 2 - Charlotte FC 2}

_{NEXT MATCH: vs. LAFC, Saturday, September 23, 7:30 p.m.| Apple TV - Free}

Good morning. It started out as another second half letdown, but somehow ended up a draw that felt kind of, almost like a win? With the playoffs officially not in doubt, the countdown to the LAFC rematch is on.

Updated standings:

In the email today:

Daniel Gazdag’s late penalty kick after a baffling foul in the box secured an unlikely draw for the Philadelphia Union in Charlotte Wednesday night while also securing a fully expected sixth straight playoff berth.

A win would’ve guaranteed the clinch, but the draw coupled with a Columbus Crew win over the Chicago Fire wrapped up the least surprising thing that will happen to the Union this season.

It’s the eighth playoff berth overall for the Union, but it registered very little in the locker room at Bank of America Stadium, according to head coach Jim Curtin.

“There used to be champagne and beers flowing after a playoff clinch and now it’s… when I say nothing you can walk in there and it’s crickets,” Curtin said post-game. “They’re mad that we didn’t get a win so that’s a good change in mentality.”

• The Union qualified for the playoffs only twice over their first eight seasons.

• Curtin became just the 7th MLS manager to lead a single team to six straight playoff berths.

Our take: Making their first MLS Cup final last year certainly raised the bar and made qualifying for the postseason with six games left less important. But it’s not always a given teams that make and even win MLS Cup cruise back into the playoffs.

Home field advantage remains a focus in the last six games left, including Saturday’s much anticipated MLS Cup rematch with LAFC.

2) 🤩 The Mighty Quinn: 19-Year-Old Turned Game Around

Quinn Sullivan played just 24 minutes off the bench last night, but he made the most of them playing on the right side of the diamond.

His first goal of the season was both a beauty and a boost that sparked the comeback.

Our take: Sullivan was expected to be more involved this season than he’s been, but his strengths as a player don’t always fit him in neatly into the system. Regardless, if he can be a disrupter and goal-scoring threat off the bench, he has all the talent to be a game-changer. He showed that emphatically last night.

3) ⚡️Tweet of the Day: Union Win?

When a Union draw after being down 2-0 in the second half feels like a win.

4) 💧 Water Cooler: Team To Avoid

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

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Results from our last poll, Worst NFL Venue in MLS:

Gillette Stadium edged out Bank of America. Note: This was before tonight’s game, which regardless of the outcome was a frustrating watch on artificial surface.

5) 🔗 Link Roundup:

• 🇮🇱Tai Baribo made his first start for the Union, pairing with Chris Donovan. The pairing had some promising moments and overall Baribo gave reason for optimism looking ahead to the prospect of not having Julian Carranza next season.

• 📈 Brian White played outside back for Jim Curtin in the run to the Generation adidas Cup crown with a Union U17 team in 2012. Now he’s the second all-time leading scorer for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

• 🇺🇸 Former Philadelphia Union midfielder Brenden Aaronson playing in the Champions League again ✅ Brenden Aaronson subbing into a Champions League match at the Bernabeu ✅ ✅.

• 🎟️ Be among the first to find out about Union playoff tickets.

The newsletter today was written by: Matt Ralph @MattRalph_

Thanks for reading!