A goal by Jamiro Monteiro late in the first half and a goal by Sergio Santos early in the second carried the Union past the Montreal Impact, 2-1, on Sunday night in the first game with fans in attendance for any Philadelphia sports team since the coronavirus pandemic started.
The crowd was just over 2,000 fans. Pennsylvania’s new state order permitting 15% occupancy of venues with more than 10,000 seats allowed a total of 2,775 people inside 18,500-seat Subaru Park, including both teams and all stadium staff.
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Fans celebrate the Union’s 2-1 victory over Montreal. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Noah Hughes, 6, was dressed to the occassion. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Megan SIngleton and her son T.J. of Delran, N.J. enter the stadium.The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Matt Pastore gets his temperature taken. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Phang, the team mascot gets his temperature taken. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Fans eneter the stadium. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Members of the Philadelphia Union and the Montreal Impact took a knee for both the Canadian and United States National Anthems. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
The Union drummers pound away in section 137. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Jack Elliott, right, of the Philadelphia Union and Amar Sejdic of the Montreal Impact battle for the ball in the first half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Goal keeper Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union bangs his head as he stops a shot by the Montreal Impact battle in the first half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Ilsinho of the Philadelphia Union grabs his leg in pain during the game against the Montreal Impact in the 2nd half. He left the game because of the injury. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Brenden Aaronson, right, of the Philadelphia Union and Rudy Camacho of the Montreal Impact battle for the ball in the first half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Real and cutout fans of the Philadelphia Union celebrate after a goal by Jamiro Monteiro, not pictured, against the Montreal Impact in the first half. Kacper Przybylko is #23. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A yellow smoke bomb is waved after Jamiro Monteiro of the Union scored in the 1st half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Head Coach Jim Curtin of the Philadelphia Union during their game against the Montreal Impact. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff file photo
The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Kacper Przybylko, bottom, of the Philadelphia Union is fouled by Rod Fanni of the Montreal Impact as they battle for the ball in the 2nd half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Matt Real, right, of the Philadelphia Union and Ballou Tabla, left, of the Montreal Impact battle for the ball in the 2nd half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A mask reminder on their big screen. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Charlie McHugh, left,and John Connell in the socially distanced stands. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Rudy Camacho, center, of the Montreal Impact heads the ball in front of Kacper Przybylko of the Philadelphia Union in the 2nd half. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Two Union fans tap their wigged heads together after the Union defeated the Impact 2-1. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the stands for their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Union players and staff salute the fans after their victory. The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
The Philadelphia Union fans celebrate their 2-1 victory. The Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
The Philadelphia Union becomes the first Philadelphia-area team to allow fans in the standsfor their game against Montreal on Oct. 11, 2020 at Suburu Park in Chester, PA. Fans celebrate after a Union goal in the first half. Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
There wasn’t much for the fans to enjoy early on. As a windy rainstorm blew across the field, the Union (10-3-4, 34 points) recorded more injury scares (three) than shots (one) in the first 38 minutes. Andre Blake, Kai Waigner, and Olivier Mbaizo each went down and took a while to get up. Fortunately, they all overcame what ailed them and stayed in the game.
It didn’t help that Montreal (6-9-2, 20 points) rolled out a five-back defense, plus a trio of defensive-minded midfielders in front of them. But in the 39th, Ilsinho -- making a rare start to give Santos some rest -- sent a superb pass toward Monteiro that split four Montreal players and caught a fifth flat-footed. Monteiro ran onto the ball, and with a smart first touch placed it past goalkeeper Clément Diop at the near post.
“He [Ilsinho] plays it when the defense least expects it, and obviously breaks down the entire back line with one pass,” Curtin said. “And 'Miro obviously makes a good run in deep. A special play, a great goal, and as a coach you can take zero credit for that -- that’s just quality.”
Union manager Jim Curtin made his first substitution at halftime. Warren Creavalle exited for Santos, which shuffled the 4-2-3-1 formation around in a few ways. Monteiro had started at the No. 10, and moved back to Creavalle’s deeper spot; Brenden Aaronson moved from the left to the center; and Santos took what had been Aaronson’s place.
Santos, Aaronson, and Ilsinho were given liberty to swap places, and they made use of it just three minutes into the second half. Aaronson made a run on the left and sprung Ilsinho behind the Montreal defense, then Ilsinho laid the ball off for an unmarked Santos to tap in.
Matt Real replaced Mbaizo in the 61st minute, and while he’s a left back, he was the only outside back on the bench with Ray Gaddis out injured.
Amar Sejdic pulled a goal back for the Impact in the 65th, becoming the first player to breach the Union’s net at Subaru Park in a month. That’s as good a sign as any of the Union’s quality this year. After conceding 50 goals in 34 games in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons, they’ve only given up 14 in 17 games this year.
“We take a lot of pride in our defense this year,” Blake said. “All the guys are committed. Jim always says, 'All 11 guys defend [and] all 11 guys attack, and I think the guys are all bought in.”
Ilsinho finally departed in the 72nd minute. Anthony Fontana was going to replace him at some point anyway, but unfortunately it came after the Brazilian took a strong tackle from Jorge Corrales and needed a while to get up from it.
Montreal came a little too close for comfort to equalizing in the 86th when Romell Quioto broke free and chipped Blake, but his shot rolled wide of the net.
The win gave the Union sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference with six games to go in the regular season.
“This entire group, no matter who’s called upon, the next man always has stepped up,” Curtin said. “Guys have been asked to play out of position, guys have been asked to go above and beyond for the team. ... Every week, these guys don’t want to let each other down, and that’s something that’s powerful.”
Patriots' COVID cases affect Union schedule
The Union’s upcoming game at the New England Revolution was pushed back a day, from Oct. 18 to Oct. 19, after the New England Patriots' coronavirus outbreak upended the NFL schedule. The Pats’ game against the Broncos that was first moved from Oct. 11 to the 12th was postponed to the 18th, kicking the soccer game out of Gillette Stadium.
Fortunately, the Union don’t have a midweek game next week, so there will be enough time to rest before the crucial Oct. 24 home game against Toronto FC.
I'm The Inquirer's soccer reporter, covering the Union, the U.S. men's and women's national teams, MLS, the NWSL, and Philadelphia's place in the world's game. I also cover college basketball and the WNBA, as Philadelphia pursues an expansion team.
