Philadelphia Union took a major step forward in their MLS playoff campaign with a dramatic victory in game one against Chicago Fire. The Union won the game 2-2, with Jesus Bueno scoring the winning penalty in the shootout.

What happened?

The Union went up 2–0 in the 75th minute, but the Fire drew level at 2–2, forcing a penalty shootout. Luckily for the Union, they won the shootout, with Bueno scoring the decisive penalty.

Why it matters for Philadelphia Union

The win is a confidence booster for the Union, who are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs. As of now, the Union are 1st in Major League Soccer, with 66 pts, 20W-6D-8L from 34 games, and recent form LWWWL. Their next fixture is against New York Red Bulls at home on 2026-07-22.

What comes next?

The Union will look to close out the series in game two when they visit the Fire next Saturday. They will be without the pressure of an aggregate score, and can focus on winning the game outright. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 1st in Major League Soccer | | Points | 66 | | Recent form | LWWWL | | Next fixture | vs New York Red Bulls (at home, 2026-07-22) | The Union's coach, Bradley Carnell, was pleased with the team's performance, saying they worked well in transition and created chaos moments. He also praised 19-year-old Frankie Westfield, who converted his penalty attempt in the shootout. The Union's win sets them up for a potential semifinal matchup against either Charlotte FC or New York City FC. Their last result was a 2-1 win against CF Montreal on 2026-04-11. The Union will look to build on this momentum and make a deep run in the playoffs.