By Siobhan Nolan, Contributing Writer

The Union finally found their footing in MLS, collecting their first league win against the Chicago Fire. After a disappointing winless streak to start their 2021 season, this win is refreshing and much-needed. Let’s recap.

The Union started the match off strong, utilizing the right flank to get balls through for scoring chances. Cory Burke, Alejandro Bedoya, and debutante Jack McGlynn all had promising looks in front of the goal, but quality saves from Fire goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth ensured that both teams went into halftime scoreless.

The deadlock wouldn’t last long going into the second half, as Burke would finally get his goal in the 51st minute off of an assist from Jamiro Monteiro. The Fire’s Robert Beric nearly equalized quickly afterwards, but couldn’t put the necessary finishing touches on his scoring opportunity.

It's been comin' all game! Patience pays off as Cory Burke slams into the back of the net 👏👏👏#DOOP | #CHIvPHI 0 - 1 pic.twitter.com/OMtzCFukSO

— PhilaUnion🛡 (@PhilaUnion) May 8, 2021

An insurance goal came when Jakob Glesnes scored off of a Kai Wagner free kick, and despite offensive substitutions in the form of Nnamdi Chinonso Offor and Alvaro Medran, an in-control defense and excellent saves from Andre Blake ensured that the Fire wouldn’t be able to find the back of the net for the rest of the game.

A bit different than his first career goal, but it counts all the same!

Glesnes gives us the 2 - 0 lead in Chicago 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cOoIGozsg1

— PhilaUnion🛡 (@PhilaUnion) May 8, 2021

Man of the Match: Cory Burke. His goal made him the 9th Union player to score 15 league goals, and is the only active Union player to have multiple goals against the Fire. He’s not the flashiest striker, but he does his job, and he does it well. (Honorable mention to 17-year-old Jack McGlynn on his debut!)

The Main Takeaway: This was a much-needed win, and one that the Union definitely deserved. The offense looked so much more alive in this game, and showed the league that they are absolutely capable of producing quality goals. With an invigorated offense, a solid defense, and an all-around cohesive team performance is the tonic the Boys in Blue needed to get back to winning ways. It was simple, effective, and the Union made it look easy. This is the Union that fans know, love, and deserve.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Alex Lyon was less than 60 seconds away from his first career shutout. Then the Capitals struck for the late goal they needed to force overtime.

Lars Eller scored with 39.8 seconds left in the third period, then Conor Sheary got the game-winner with a minute left in overtime to hand the Flyers a 2-1 loss on Saturday night.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers got another solid performance from young players in a win over the Washington Capitals on Friday night that seriously put some implications on the division race.

The Capitals chances at the division title took a hit in that loss, one they will be looking to avenge in the final meeting of the season between the two sides on Saturday night.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

In the late stages of a season of disappointment for the Flyers, any emerging performances can set the stage for next season. One young player continued a season of tremendous growth. Another newcomer had his biggest game to date.

Joel Farabee scored his team-leading 18th goal of the season and Wade Allison scored a pair of goals as the Flyers defeated the Capitals, 4-2, on Friday night.

By Siobhan Nolan, Contributing Writer

Week 4 of MLS play is going to be a battle of the disappointments, as the Union take on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

Both teams are having a rough start to the season, only taking away one point from their last three league games. While the Union have a bit more of an excuse for their poor run of form, having to focus on both MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League, their league play still leaves much to be desired. They’ve proven that they’re more than capable of generating a prolific offense and holding together a solid defense in the CCL, but for some reason, they haven’t been able to replicate those performances in MLS. Their 2020 campaign started with a three-game winless streak, and ended with the Supporters’ Shield, so all hope isn’t lost just yet.

The Fire don’t have international competition to worry about, rather a new ownership that is already showing cracks and calling into question the owners’ understanding of MLS play. While they’ve shown that they perform better at home than on the road, the Fire aren’t looking to be in any shape to suddenly get their act together against a team that just advanced to the semifinals of the CCL.

Possible Starting XI: Blake, Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner, Bedoya, Fontana, Flach, Monteiro, Santos, Przybylko

• Again, Jim Curtin is likely to make minimal changes to his lineup. It’s been working well in the CCL, and it isn’t too late in the season for it to start working in MLS. Jose Martinez will miss this game because of a red card suspension, but he is the only significant absence in the team right now.

Score Prediction: There’s really no telling how the Union will perform in this game, but their stretch of mediocre performances can’t last forever. Playing against a struggling and disorganized Fire might not be the most convincing win, but at this point, three points is three points. A simple 2-1 win scoreline should do the trick. Fourth time’s the charm, right?

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

On Friday afternoon, the Eagles announced that they made an addition at running back by claiming Kerryon Johnson from the Lions.

Roster Move: #Eagles have claimed RB Kerryon Johnson off of waivers. pic.twitter.com/wLCDFnBHR2

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 7, 2021

Johnson adds to a crowded room that may not even allow allow room for him on the 53-man by the end of camp.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For most of the week, the hockey world has been completely focused on the Washington Capitals. The Flyers make the trip to DC for a weekend back-to-back with three games remaining on their schedule.

The Capitals have a lot to play for, looking to claim an edge in the East Division race. Just like earlier this week against Pittsburgh, the Flyers look to play spoiler, starting with Friday night's opener.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Frank Klose, Geoff Mosher, and Suzie Hunter discuss:

• Phillies hot against the Brewers
•  Issues remain: Center Field, Rotation Bullpen
• Any trade options out there?
• What is with all the benches clearing and bad umpiring?

Tuesday night it was pretty clear that the Phillies would have to place outfielder Roman Quinn on the injured list.  Quinn squared to bunt in the bottom of the second.  Quinn missed the ball with the bat, but managed to have the ball hit square on his right hand.  X-Rays were negative, but Quinn cut the finger, which resulted in eight stitches.

But that was not the only injury.

Matt Joyce, who entered last night's game in the eighth inning, was placed on the Injured List along with Quinn.  The diagnosis was a calf strain.  This further complicates the Phillies outfield situation.

Bryce Harper has been day-to-day with a sore right wrist.  The wrist was hit by way of Harper's face, which took the brunt of a wild pitch of Genesis Cabrera of the St. Louis Cardinals.   Harper remains out of the lineup Wednesday night.

To replace Quinn and Joyce on the roster, the Phillies recalled outfielder Mickey Moniak and utility player Scott Kingery from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  Both appeared in one game for the IronPigs, last night's opener. Moniak was 0 for 4, while Kingery hit a walk-off RBI triple to secure an IronPigs victory.

Kingery yielded his spot in the starting lineup to Jean Segura and Ronald Torreyes, who were rehabbing.  Both Segura and Torreyes could join the Phillies soon.

By Siobhan Nolan, Contributing Writer

The Union are headed to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. Process that for a minute.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering their run in the CCL has been nothing short of stellar so far. They’ve only conceded one goal during their run, knocked MLS giant Atlanta United out of the competition, and have more than proven themselves worthy of being in international competition. In their international debut, the CCL is looking to be the Union’s wheelhouse.

The Union were going into the second leg of this quarterfinal on a favorable 3-0 aggregate score, and despite the absence of Jose Martinez due to yellow card accumulation, an offense that wasn’t lacking in ability or hunger.

Atlanta did manage to score first on a low shot from Santiago Sosa, but the Union didn’t look too fazed. They played a comfortable rest of the first half, although they never stopped pushing for an insurance goal to pad the aggregate.

The second half saw much of the same, but the Boys in Blue finally found the back of the net off the foot of—who else?—Kacper Przybyłko to tie things up in the 88th minute. The 1-1 scoreline would hold, meaning that the Union will advance to the CCL semifinals, where they will face either the Portland Timbers or Mexican side Club America.

While there wasn’t much conflict to speak of between the teams during the game, there was a clash between Union manager Jim Curtin and Atlanta manager Gabriel Heinze after the final whistle. Curtin claimed that the confrontation happened after Heinze refused to shake his hand after the match, along with accusing Union players of diving and faking injuries across both legs of the quarterfinal.

“He’s an incredible coach, he’s an incredible player, but you can still also be a sore loser and be an [expletive] at the end of the game,” Curtin said in a postgame press conference. “I still think there’s a right wayI think he should shake hands like a man after the game.”

Captain Alejandro Bedoya had more of a lighthearted take on the situation, joking that “[Heinze] wanted to know where to get the best cheesesteak.”

Man of the Match: It has to be Przybylko again. He’s been an unstoppable force in this competition, and his offensive contributions have been invaluable for the Union. The entire team looked solid in this game, but it’s only right to give MOTM to the man with the difference maker.

The Main Takeaway: Making it to the CCL semifinals is obviously incredible, but those games don’t start until the third week of August. Now, the Union need to channel all of their energy and focus into improving their standing in the MLS. The phenomenal performances they’ve been treating fans to in the CCL needs to translate into league play because, at the end of the day, gunning for the MLS Cup should take priority over everything.