Bradley Carnell’s Philadelphia Union came through the first hurdle in the Major League Soccer playoffs on Sunday, but they had to scramble to win the first of three playoff clashes against Chicago Fire.
The former Bafana Bafana left back took Philadelphia to top place in the regular season in his first year in charge of the club and his side are top seeds for the playoffs, which began last Wednesday.
Union meet Chicago in a best of three matches play-off series and went 2-0 up on Sunday after winning 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 home draw.
“We put on a really good display of what we try to do. We broke in transition, we showed what we can do, created chaos moments, and took opportunities when they came,” Carnell said after the match.
“It was a contrast of two styles: one team trying to waste every second and trying to get out of here and get what they wanted, penalties. Glad we came out on the other side.”
Game one, WON! 🙌#DOOP | @PennMedicine pic.twitter.com/rKD0RIZTuf
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 27, 2025
Philadelphia were on their way to victory after scoring twice in five minutes during the second half with Indiana Vassilev (70th minute) and Milan Iloski (75th minute) netting.
Jonathan Bamba pulled one back for Chicago in the 84th minute before former Philadelphia centre back Jack Elliott equalised with a long-range shot that forced penalties.
Philadelphia are now one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they would meet Charlotte or New York City.
They can punch their ticket on Saturday, when they visit Chicago, but if they lose then the two sides will play a decisive third game in Philadelphia on 8 November.