Daniel Gazdag had one goal and one assist to lift the host Philadelphia Union past reeling FC Cincinnati 2-0 on Sunday night.
Paxten Aaronson added one goal for the Union (14-8-11, 53 points), who moved into second place in the Eastern Conference.
Goalkeeper Andre Blake earned the shutout with two saves.
The Union, who clinched a playoff berth before this game thanks to results from other clubs, will participate in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. But with one final game looming against New York City FC next Sunday, the Union’s playoff seeding has yet to be determined.
FC Cincinnati fell to 4-21-8, good for 20 points, in dropping their 11th straight game.
The Union went ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute when Olivier Mbaizo received a pass from Alejandro Bedoya at the top of the box and ripped a shot that deflected off Gazdag and into the net.
FC Cincinnati’s best scoring chance in the first half came in the 40th minute when Yuya Kubo gathered a loose ball and hit a shot just wide.
The Union dominated much of the half but held a slim one-goal lead at the break.
In the 51st minute, FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez sent a crisp pass into the box to a wide open Alvaro Barreal, but Barreal wasn’t able to generate a clean shot, and it sailed high and wide.
The Union then capitalized in the 53rd minute as Aaronson converted a left-footed strike for a 2-0 lead.
FC Cincinnati responded with a couple of solid chances in the 63rd minute as Kubo and Barreal had shots blocked just outside of the box.
Gazdag nearly registered his second goal in the 80th minute as his low-lining laser landed slightly over the net.
From there, the Union cruised to the shutout.
–Field Level Media
