Carnell keeps on playoff winning track

Bradley Carnell’s Philadelphia Union sailed past the first hurdle in the Major League Soccer playoffs as they beat Chicago Fire for a second week in a row to advance to the next stage in search of the title.

The former South African international coached his side to the top of the regular season standings in the North American league and on Saturday, they became the first team to clinch a spot in the Conference semifinals.

They produced a convincing 3-0 win away in Chicago to win the three-match series 2-0 and now wait to see whether they will play Charlotte FC or New York City FC, who are 1-1 after their second game of the playoffs and have a deciding game in Charlotte on Friday.

Union striker Tai Baribo scored twice in the opening 16 minutes, and Bruno Damiani added the other goal before halftime as the Union kept up their winning ways.

The 21-year-old former Stellenbosch centre-back Olwethu Makhanya was again in the starting line-up for Carnell’s side while Union goalkeeper Andre Blake saved Brian Gutiérrez's penalty kick in Chicago’s only real chance of the game.

“There is momentum and swings and sways of a game that determine the outcome, and if you concede a goal there, we are under pressure even at two to one,” Carnell said of Blake's heroics.

“In the last game, we scored a goal, and five minutes later, we are two up. When they scored a goal, five minutes later, it was two to two. These five-minute increments of the sway of the game are vitally important.”

Union now have time to prepare for the Conference semifinal and will host the match on either November 22 or 23.

“The guys seem to be galvanising in a really good way, positive energy,” said Carnell of his players. “Understanding roles, responsibilities, as they should by now. These guys empty the tank every single day.”