Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati: A Rivalry Renewed in 2025 Home Opener

The Philadelphia Union Open Their 2025 Home Campaign Against the Team That Kept Them Out of the 2024 Playoffs.

(Credit: Philadelphia Union)

Chester — Familiar foes will clash once again as the Philadelphia Union kick off their 2025 home campaign against FC Cincinnati—the very team that ended their 2024 season.

The Union started their 2025 MLS season with a 4-2 win against Orlando City last weekend, while FC Cincinnati opened with a 1-0 win at TQL Stadium against the New York Red Bulls.

Cincinnati has two more games under its belt, as the team is currently competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They defeated Honduran side F.C. Motagua 5-2 on aggregate, winning the first match 4-1 in Honduras and drawing 1-1 Wednesday night at TQL Stadium with a rotated squad. Cincinnati will face Liga MX giants Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, March 4.

Cincinnati’s Offseason Moves

Like the Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati had a busy offseason, offloading and signing new players. After falling to NYCFC on penalty kicks in Game Three of the Round One MLS playoffs last season, Cincinnati moved on from 12 players from last year’s roster, including club legend Luciano Acosta, who was sold to FC Dallas for $5 million, plus another $1 million if certain performance-based metrics were met.

Laurel Pfahler of Queen City Press had an exclusive statement from Acosta himself, explaining a rift between him and FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright and why he felt it was time to move on from the club. In turn, Cincinnati went out and traded for Portland Timbers’ Evander for $12 million.

Evander, 26, enjoyed an MVP-caliber season last year with the Timbers, where he appeared in 28 MLS games, scoring 15 goals and assisting 15 in 2,462 minutes. He was reportedly unhappy with his contract situation in Portland and even took to social media after the Timbers were knocked out of the 2024 MLS playoffs to express his displeasure with the front office.

Cincinnati also brought in Togolese forward Kevin Denkey, 24, from Belgian side Club Brugge for a reported fee of $16.2 million. Denkey joined Brugge in January 2021 and made 152 appearances, scoring 66 goals and assisting 21 in 10,144 minutes.

Both Denkey and Evander have gotten off to hot starts with Cincinnati. Denkey has scored three goals in his first three games for the club, while Evander has recorded one goal and one assist in three games.

Cincinnati also signed 21-year-old center back Gilberto Flores from Paraguayan side Club Libertad. Flores, a U22 Initiative signing, replaces center backs Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy, who were both traded to the Colorado Rapids.

Key Players Returning for Both Sides

Though listed as “questionable” on the official MLS Player Availability Report, Pat Noonan confirmed at his Friday press conference that Nick Hagglund, Luca Orellano, and former Philadelphia Union forward Sergio Santos are all available for the match against the Union.

The Union also received good news regarding right back Nathan Harriel’s availability, as the young defender had missed all of the Union’s preseason games and their opening match against Orlando City due to a thigh strain.

“Nate’s trending in the right direction,” said Carnell Thursday at his press conference with reporters. “He’s been training with us this week, full go, so he definitely belongs to the available roster.”

Bruno Damiani, who the Union recently acquired from Nacional, is also available for selection. He missed last Saturday’s game against Orlando City while dealing with visa paperwork.

“Bruno arrived back from his work visa engagement,” Carnell said. “So he's back training with us, eligible for the roster as well.”

Carnell didn’t reveal much about Damiani’s potential playing time but did express his satisfaction with the chemistry between Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre. Both forwards got on the scoresheet last Saturday against Orlando City. The season is still young, but a four-goal performance in the opener signals a promising attack.

“Him [Tai Baribo] and Mikael have a really good relationship,” Carnell said. “If one's going, one's coming. So, good double movement on the last line. It’s fun to watch these guys. And all I can speak about is what's happening now—I see a good relationship with all our attacking players at the moment. There's a good relationship, there’s good chemistry and there’s good spacing.”

The Union’s most recent acquisition, Indiana Vassilev, who the club acquired from St. Louis CITY last Friday, also missed last Saturday’s game. Like Harriel and Damiani, he, too, will be available against Cincinnati.

Carnell coached Vassilev at St. Louis CITY for a year and a half before being fired for a poor run of results. During their time together, Vassilev was a regular in Carnell’s lineups, appearing 62 times (48 starts) while scoring five goals and assisting nine in 3,937 minutes. Vassilev can play multiple positions, and his prior experience with Carnell should make him a regular in this Union squad.

“I've known Indy for a couple of years now,” Carnell said. “I know what he brings on the field [and] what he brings off the field. He arrived here like he's been playing with the team for six months already, so he's easy to integrate within a new group. He's a good player within the philosophy, and he's available, ready to go.”

Getting Back To Winning At Subaru Park

Last season was historically bad for the Union at Subaru Park, as the club set a franchise record for the fewest home wins (4) in MLS play. The Union conceded first at Subaru Park in seven of their 17 home games last season, going 0-5-2 in those matches. Even when scoring first, they still found ways to lose, posting a 4-3-1 record. And who can forget the 2-1 loss at home against a 10-man, Messi-less Inter Miami team?

Carnell knows that for this team to succeed in 2025, it starts with taking care of business at home.

“As an opponent coming here many, many years, I always hated the Doop song—now I can't wait for the Doop,” Carnell said with a grin. “I'm hoping we can reward the fans that come out, and hopefully, we show them a bit of our signature and the way we want to play and entertain. We feel that’s our obligation—to entertain and to reward the fans for their efforts in coming to support us. So, yeah, we just want to get out there. We just want to play. We just want to maintain this momentum that we have right now.”

Series History (MLS Play Only)

The Union and FC Cincinnati have faced off 12 times in league play, with the Union holding the advantage with a 5-4-3 record, though Cincinnati has won four of the last five meetings. At Subaru Park, the Union is 4-1-2, with their last win coming on October 31, 2021, in a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Dániel Gazdag and Paxten Aaronson.

Their most recent matchup at Subaru Park was on Decision Day last season (October 19), when the Union took an early lead through Quinn Sullivan in the second minute. However, Yamil Asad equalized for Cincinnati in first-half stoppage time after a defensive lapse, and just like he started the year, Jakob Glesnes scored an own goal, this time just 41 seconds into the second half. The Union’s playoff hopes were crushed by poor defending and an avoidable own goal.

Six current Union players have scored against FC Cincinnati: Dániel Gazdag, Alejandro Bedoya, and Tai Baribo (2), Quinn Sullivan, Jesús Bueno and Indiana Vassilev (1). For Cincinnati, one current player has scored against the Union: Luca Orellano (1).

Player Availability Report

Philadelphia Union

• Markus Anderson – Ankle (Out)

FC Cincinnati

• Matt Miazga - Knee (Out)

• Gerardo Valenzuela - Leg (Out)

• Nick Hagglund - Ankle (Questionable)

• Alec Kann - Hip (Questionable)

• Luca Orellano - Leg (Questionable)

• Sergio Santos - Leg (Questionable)

Where to Watch

The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. EST, March 1.

Video credit: Philadelphia Union