Perhaps it was proximity to being on the other side of such a beating so recently, but Bradley Carnell kept it even-keeled from the first Saturday night.

Or perhaps it is proximity to a piece of hardware.

Yes, a 6-0 clubbing of D.C. United was to be savored by the Philadelphia Union. For a club that had preached not getting too low after a 7-0 drubbing in Vancouver two weeks ago, understandably the impulse was to respond by not getting too high.

But the Union (19-7-6, 63 points) had the dream day for the third-to-last matchday of the season, beyond tying the franchise record for wins in a season and continuing domination over their nearest neighbor to the south.

Paired with Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Toronto earlier, the Union retook control of their destiny in the Shield race. They a

See Full Page