Union vs NYCFC: Who Go Carry Last Laugh for Semifinal?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – E be like say this weekend go hot as Philadelphia Union dey prepare to face New York City FC for semifinal wey go happen for Subaru Park on Sunday. Naija people sabi say na wetin we fit call ‘do-or-die’ matter, as winner go head enter another conference final.

For paper, e look like say Union no go struggle, but abeg no let anybody deceive you; e no easy like dat! Dem dey face one familiar rival wey dey always find way to turn up for knockout games (no wahala for dem). Every time dem dem meet, e just dey scatter like gbege on top road.

Union don dey shine this season well well, especially after dem win Supporters’ Shield for October. With 20 match unbeaten for home, dem dey ready to flex muscle for playoffs bad bad. As dem no dey eager to look back, dem wan end season on a high note (like big Igbo man wey wan show him wealth).

But no forget say Bradley Carnell and him squad no just dey sit down dey chop popcorn during di break o! Dem train hard, simulate any kind match pressure wey fit come, and correct all di small-small errors wey fit affect dem. Only two players dey miss out, and na Quinn Sullivan wey cause concern. Last time wey sef dem face Chicago Fire, dem dey lead 2-0 but dem allow am waka like my paddy wey dey always misplace him phone!

For Subaru Park, di place dey hot like suya; fans dey remember di vibes wey carry them reach MLS Cup for di first time in 2022 after dem beat NYCFC. So, even di ghost of past success dey loom for di air as dem prepare.

On di other hand, NYCFC no dey come without wahala. Three top players dey miss like dem tell dem say no show. Andrés Perea, Aidan O’Neill, and Alonso Martínez be dem wey dey chop plenty palava. Martínez wey na di main scorer, don injure him knee while he dey represent Costa Rica. Na wah! Pascal Jansen no get plenty time to think as he go need rearrange squad, but e no even fit communicate well. E get pressure, no be small.

But abeg, no count NYCFC out just yet. Dem win two out of three games against Charlotte in di last round, including one 3-1 away victory wey show say dem get di heart of lion. Plus, dem don win five out of last six away matches. So, hope dey, as dem fit just snatch win like dem do for US Open Cup 2023 wey dem knack di Union.

This rivalry dey carry some strange patterns wey like Yoruba say, “E no go fit settle quietly.” For di last fourteen clashes, none show for draw! Na only winners dey wey fit smile at di end, and di intensity dey off di charts. As dis semifinal dey approach, we go see who go manage di pressure pass.