Since the birth of the Philadelphia Union in 2010, the Black-and-Red and the U have had no shortage of excitement during their matchups. Saturday's game will be the 22nd fixture between the Eastern Conference foes, but before the I-95 rivals meet again, take a look back at some of their most memorable moments.
The first matchup
The first-ever D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union game was played in front of nearly 35,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field, and the match featured one of the season's most exciting back-and-forth affairs. Pressing hard to level the score line after being down 2-0 in the second half, the Black-and-Red pulled the match within one, then Jaime Moreno blocked Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz's punt in the 70th minute. Moreno made Seitz pay and leveled the score at 2-2. Sébastien Le Toux played hero for the Union fans, though, as he scored his third goal of the match in the 80th minute to record the club's first-ever hat trick and to seal the 3-2 win.
The last-second heartbreak
On May 17, 2015, United and the Union's match at PPL Park came down to the last possible moment. The game was a display of defensive prowess as both teams were holding on to clean sheets after 90 minutes of play. Then, in the 93rd minute, the Union's Fabinho found room on the left side of the box and crossed a ball in toward Le Toux, who dummied the pass, allowing Zach Pfeffer the chance to beat goalkeeper Bill Hamid low to the near post. The Union would walk off the pitch with a 1-0 victory in a game that seemed like it would surely end in a 0-0 draw.
The game-winning PK
Thirteen days after the disappointing defeat, on May 30, 2015, the rivalry continued to grow in another dramatic matchup, this time at RFK Stadium. The visitors seized a lead early when in the 5th minute midfielder Andrew Wenger collected the ball at the 18-yard line and feathered a pass to Le Toux on the right side, who finished into the bottom left corner. United found their equalizer just before halftime, as defender Taylor Kemp whipped in a cross in the 46th minute, and midfielder Chris Pontius elevated over the Union defense to connect on a powerful header that beat goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.
The match remained deadlocked for the vast majority of the second half. But in the 85th minute, Zach Pfeffer—the Union's hero in the sides' previous meeting—was called for a handball in the box, giving the Black-and-Red a penalty kick. Veteran midfielder Chris Rolfe confidently stepped up and buried his shot in the left side of the netting to seal the 2-1 victory for the District.
The RFK comeback
Just a few months later, on July 26, 2015, United and Philadelphia met for the third and final time in the 2015 season at RFK Stadium. To the shock of the fans, the home side found themselves down 2-0 after only four minutes of play. C.J. Sapong scored the game's first just 20 seconds into the match, then Sébastien Le Toux doubled the lead on a broken play in the fourth minute of the contest.
Despite the surprising deficit, United continued to fight. In the 37th minute, striker Álvaro Saborio stole one back for the Black-and-Red off of a first-time, left-footed shot from a Chris Korb cross to the back post. United then leveled things up in the 66th minute as midfielder Nick DeLeon slotted home a rebound off a Fabian Espindola shot. With 11 minutes remaining in regulation and United back in the driver's seat, Korb whipped a cross into the box and Espindola connected with a powerful header aimed low to the far post, leaving Sylvestre no chance to save it. The comeback was complete and secured another massive three points for United's 2015 campaign.
The last-gasp equalizer
On Aug. 6, 2016, 16,392 fans at RFK were treated to a thrilling 2-2 draw that once again went down to the final play of the game. The match started in United's favor as Taylor Kemp intercepted a pass and took the ball coast-to-coast for the game's first goal. The U would equalize in the 46th minute off a long-range free kick from Tranquillo Barnetta, who smashed the attempt from 30 yards out and found space to Bill Hamid's left.
Shortly after halftime, a familiar face gave the Union their first lead of the contest—former United player Chris Pontius tallied a goal against his former teammates after Ilsinho faked a shot at the top of the box then ladled a pass into Pontius' path for a simple tap-in finish. However, United showed resolve as they continued to push for the tying goal for the remainder of the second half.
Finally, in the 94th minute, the home side's efforts were rewarded. Steven Birnbaum connected perfectly on a header from the left side of the box, catching Union keeper Andre Blake off-guard. The goal secured a late point for the District and, perhaps equally as enjoyable, stole two points away from their I-95 rivals.
Over the years, United and the Union have shared some outstanding moments on the pitch—heartbreak, resolve, determination, and dramatics. The next chapter comes this Saturday, April 28 at Talen Energy Stadium, as the teams look to rekindle a storied rivalry and secure three points for their respective clubs.
