{"id":12361,"date":"2025-11-01T23:53:36","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T23:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/01\/ty-balibo-scores-twice-union-defeats-fire-3-0-in-first-round-victory\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T23:53:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T23:53:36","slug":"ty-balibo-scores-twice-union-defeats-fire-3-0-in-first-round-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/01\/ty-balibo-scores-twice-union-defeats-fire-3-0-in-first-round-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Ty Balibo scores twice, Union defeats Fire 3-0 in first round victory"},"content":{"rendered":"


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CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Ty Balibo scored two early goals and the Philadelphia Union defeated the Chicago Fire 3-0 on Saturday, clinching a best-of-three first-round series in the MLS Cup playoffs. <\/p>\n

Philadelphia, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host either No. 4 seed Charlotte or No. 5 seed New York City in a one-game conference semifinal. <\/p>\n

Balibo took the lead in the sixth minute, beating goalkeeper Jeff Gall, who started in place of the injured Chris Brady, on the 18-yard edge of the box and rolling his next touch into a wide-open net. Then, in the 16th inning, Kai Wagner jumped out and Wagner scored a header in front of the goal to make it 2-0. <\/p>\n

Bruno Damiani gave Union a 3-0 lead in the 35th minute. Milan Iroski blocked a failed clearance from Gall, making his eighth appearance and seventh start in 2025, and Damiani fired a first-touch shot from the center of the area. <\/p>\n

Andre Blake made two saves for Union.<\/p>\n

Gall didn’t stop shooting. <\/p>\n

Philadelphia won the regular season matchup against the Fire 5-0 on aggregate to remain in the league. win game 1<\/span> They defeated Chicago for the fourth straight time in a penalty shootout (4-2). <\/p>\n

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AP Soccer Details: https:\/\/apnews.com\/soccer<\/span> and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP_Sports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n