Philadelphia Union, a team that many had written off this season, has just shown that it has a lot more fighting spirit in it. After a thrilling 4-2 victory over FC Cincinnati, the burning question is: has the sleeping giant finally woken up?

First of all, the Union did not go into this game as favorites. The ups and downs of the season so far had made the fans quite skeptical. But this victory undoubtedly marks the beginning of a new chapter for Jim Curtin’s team.

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You could feel the tension building with every minute, like a guitar string stretched to the limit and ready to snap at any moment. And boy, was the drama. There was a disallowed goal, a series of shots on goal in the second half, relentless pressure from the opposition… it was the kind of game that takes the breath away from even the most skeptical of players.

Mikael Uhre broke the deadlock and shattered the silence that had hung over the crowd. It was like a bolt of lightning through a gloomy sky, rekindling hope. Tai Baribo, who seems to have found his rhythm, left his mark with two goals, taking his personal tally to five in the Leagues Cup and eleven in the last eleven games. The guy is a phenomenon! When Quinn Sullivan scored the fourth goal, it was the final blow for a Cincinnati side that, despite playing at home, could not stave off the inevitable.

But what really struck me – and probably everyone else who watched the game – was the team’s attitude. It wasn’t just about technique or tactics; it was about something deeper, something that went beyond the pitch. It was a demonstration of a renewed team spirit, a determination that had been dormant and suddenly awoke with full force. It was as if the team had rediscovered its essence.

Jim Curtin didn’t mince his words in an interview after the game: “When everyone sticks together, we’re still a really good team.” That may sound like a cliché, but he’s absolutely right. When a team believes in itself, it becomes a dangerous opponent, no matter how talented the individual players are. And it seems as if Union found that lost confidence somewhere in the dressing room.

Let’s face it, the Union stumbled in MLS’ Eastern Conference, finishing a modest 10th, one point shy of the playoff line. And let’s not forget the context in which this win was achieved: away, in a hostile environment, against a team that wasn’t going to make it easy. Curtin summed it up when he said, “That was a near-perfect away performance.” The irony is that despite the mistakes and close calls, it was precisely that imperfection that made the win so special.

As Curtin himself admitted, Union still have a tough road ahead in the regular season. But if this win is a sign of things to come, their opponents have every reason to worry. The Leagues Cup, which initially seemed like a distant dream, now presents itself as a real chance at glory. And what’s more, the confidence they’ve gained in these games could be just the edge they need heading into the home stretch of MLS.