ANDRE BLAKE

The biggest winner in the Major League Soccer offseason transfer market ended up being the rumor mill.

Andre Blake and the Philadelphia Union are hoping history doesn't repeat itself. The Union will be participating in their first MLS Cup final on Saturday afternoon at Los Angeles Football Club. “It’s really going well in Philadelphia right now,” goalkeeper Blake said. The MLS Cup is winner-take-all. This will be the fifth time teams from Philadelphia and Los Angeles have met with a professional sports title on the line.

Philadelphia sports fans came up empty the last time two teams from the City of Brotherly Love competed for a title at the same time.

Talles Magno scored in the 88th minute to send New York City FC into the MLS Cup final with a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.

MLS Nashville Union Soccer Philadelphia Union's Andre Blake watches as the show by Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar goes in for a goal during the first half of an MLS playoff soccer match, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) (Chris Szagola)The Philadelphia Union will be without 11 players on Sunday when the team plays NYCFC in the MLS Eastern Conference finals because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The Union were unable to practice on Thursday because of the league's protocol, but resumed training on Friday. I know that they’ll be brave, even in the adversity that we’re facing right now,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. We’ve had a next-man-up mentality all season long.”Curtin announced during the regular season that all of the Union players had been vaccinated. The Union were able to bring in the players because of extreme hardship.

The Philadelphia Union will be without 11 players on Sunday when the team plays NYCFC in the MLS Eastern Conference finals because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Tim Weah’s 11th-minute goal was matched by Michail Antonio’s spectacular 34-yard strike in the 22nd minute, leaving the United States with a 1-1 draw against Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier.

Ricardo Pepi scored twice early in the second half, becoming at 18 the youngest American with goals in consecutive World Cup qualifiers, and the United States dominated Jamaica in a 2-0 victory.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Jamaica US Soccer Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake (1) is unable to stop a header by United States forward Matthew Hoppe, center right, for a score as defender Oniel Fisher (8) looks on late in the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals soccer match, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade)ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Matthew Hoppe scored his first international goal on a header in the 83rd minute and the United States beat Jamaica 1-0 Sunday night to reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Hoppe, making his second international appearance, nodded home a cross from Cristian Roldan from just inside the 6-yard box, and the U.S. eliminated the 45th-ranked Reggae Boyz for the third straight Gold Cup. It will be the 11th consecutive Gold Cup semifinal for the Americans, who last won in 2017 when they beat Jamaica in the final. 70 Canada beat 50th-ranked Costa Rica 1-0 to reach its first Gold Cup semifinal since 2007, when it lost 2-1 to the U.S.

Matthew Hoppe scored his first international goal on a header in the 83rd minute and the United States beat Jamaica 1-0 to reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Benji Michel opened the scoring in the 10th minute, 20-year-old Andrés Perea added a goal and Orlando City beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Mauricio Pereyras goal midway through the second half gave Orlando City a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union on Monday night and the top spot out of Group A in the MLS is Back tournament. A better goal differential gave Orlando City took the top spot in the knockout round. Orlando City (2-1-2) will play a third-place finisher from group play in the round of 16 on Saturday. His third career goal against Orlando City came after a long stretch where Orlando dominated scoring chances. Blakes best save came just before Philadelphia took the lead when he tipped a header from Antnio Carlos off the crossbar.