The D.C. United–Philadelphia Union rivalry or the Union–United rivalry (sometimes referred to as the Colonial Cup or the Shertz–Gemmell Cup) is a soccer rivalry between D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union, who both play in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. One of the several I-95 derbies, the two clubs began playing against each other regularly since 2010, when Philadelphia Union entered MLS as an expansion team.
| Other names | Colonial Cup, Shertz–Gemmell Cup[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern United States |
| First meeting | April 10, 2010 MLS regular season PHI 3–2 DC |
| Latest meeting | September 22, 2024 MLS regular season PHI 4–0 DC |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 49 |
| Most wins | Philadelphia Union (23) |
| All-time series | PHI 23–15–11 DC |
| Regular season series | MLS: PHI 20–8–8 DC Open Cup: DC 3–1–0 PHI |
| Postseason results | DC 0–0–0 PHI |
| Largest victory | PHI 7–0 DC MLS regular season (July 8, 2022) |
Philadelphia has an advantage over D.C. United with overall victories with 23 and regular season victories with 20. D.C. United have the advantage with overall U.S. Open Cup victories with three. The two team's stadiums are separated by 120 miles (193 kilometers) allowing both clubs' fans to travel to away matches routinely.[2]
In the early 2010s, the rivalry was primarily dominated by D.C. United, although in the late 2010s into the mid-2020s, the rivalry has been dominated by the Philadelphia Union.[3]
Background
editPrior to MLS, there have been several sporting rivalries between teams in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. in part due to the proximity of the cities and franchises in these cities being within the same sporting conferences. Some notable rivalries include the Capitals–Flyers rivalry in the National Hockey League,[4] the Commanders–Eagles rivalry in the National Football League,[5] and more recently, the Nationals–Phillies rivalry in Major League Baseball.[6] During the days of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, there were rivalries between the Washington Diplomats and the Philadelphia Atoms[7] and eventually the Philadelphia Fury.[8]
Before the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the United States Soccer Federation fulfilled its promise to FIFA by aiding in the foundation of a new professional league, which would become Major League Soccer (MLS).[9] On June 15, 1994, MLS selected Washington, D.C. out of twenty-two applicants to host one of the league's first seven franchises, with three more added before the league's launch.[10] United would be one of the 10 charter clubs in Major League Soccer, playing their first season in 1996.[11][12]
In United's early years, they quickly established themselves as one of the elite clubs in MLS winning themselves four MLS Cup titles, four Supporters' Shield titles, two U.S. Open Cup titles, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup title all prior to Philadelphia being awarded an expansion franchise.
While there had been talk of expanding an MLS club in Philadelphia as far back as 2001,[13] the announcement of a formal MLS franchise in Philadelphia came in 2008 when the league announced Philadelphia as the 16th club, joining the league in 2010.[14] The finalization of the club was the result of a $47 million package approved by Delaware County politicians and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell that included the cost of Subaru Park and a major urban renewal project.[15]
Ahead of the 2010 Major League Soccer season, both clubs were pitted in the Eastern Conference of MLS and played each other twice: one home and one away leg, marking the first meetings between the Union and United.
History
edit
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The rivalry's roots can be traced back to the Union's first-ever home match on April 10, 2010, a 3–2 victory over D.C. United in front of 35,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In that game, Union forward Sébastien Le Toux scored a hat-trick, etching his name in the club's history.[16] D.C. United's Jaime Moreno also contributed with a stunning goal, which remains a highlight in the early days of the rivalry. Despite Philadelphia's first triumph, D.C. United managed to win the only other match between the two teams that season, thanks to two goals from Danny Allsopp.[17] Tensions began to rise in 2011 when the teams met in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match. In a dramatic contest, the Union equalized despite being down a player, but D.C. United ultimately won in a penalty shootout. The emotional and heated nature of the game signaled the growing intensity between the two clubs. Later that season, the Union secured a crucial home win with a brace from Le Toux and a goal from Michael Farfan, pushing Philadelphia closer to its first playoff appearance.
By 2012, matches between D.C. United and Philadelphia Union were known for their physicality and high stakes.[3] The rivalry escalated during another U.S. Open Cup contest, where Philadelphia triumphed after a hard-fought battle. On the league side, games between the two teams remained heated, with players from both teams being ejected during a contentious August draw at RFK Stadium. That game featured notable incidents, including a missed penalty by Dwayne De Rosario, adding to the tension between the sides. In 2013, the rivalry took on new dimensions when Philadelphia won at RFK Stadium for the first time. The Union used a quote from D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid guaranteeing victory as motivation, with Jack McInerney scoring twice in a 3–2 win. The rivalry continued to build as the teams clashed in both league play and the U.S. Open Cup, with each match proving highly competitive.
While the rivalry is known for its on-field intensity, there were moments of solidarity off the field.[3] In 2014, supporters of both clubs came together for a tailgate to honor Eric Schertz, a Union fan who had passed away days prior to the matchup.[18] The show of respect between the teams’ supporters contrasted sharply with the competitive nature of their encounters on the pitch. Despite this, the Union struggled against D.C. United that season, losing twice in 1-0 games. After a quieter 2014, the rivalry reignited in 2015 with several dramatic matches. Philadelphia secured a memorable stoppage-time victory at home, while also advancing in the U.S. Open Cup after defeating D.C. United despite being reduced to 10 men. D.C. United, however, managed to earn some key wins at home, including a come-from-behind victory in July 2015 after trailing by two goals.
By 2016, with Philadelphia showing signs of improvement and both teams fighting for playoff spots, the rivalry took on added significance. The Union's acquisition of former D.C. United player Chris Pontius further fueled the narrative, as Pontius switched sides in the rivalry.[19][3] In 2016, MLSSoccer.com as part of its "Rivalry Week" promotion listed an online poll for fans to name the rivalry between the two clubs. The options were the I-95 Cup, the Capital Cup, the Freedom Cup or the Colonial Cup. The poll in general was panned by fans and met with heavy criticism from the media as an attempt to manufacture the rivalry. Instead, some journalists suggested naming the rivalry as the "Schertz–Gemmell Cup" in respect to the late Schertz as to Kenneth Gemmell, who passed away in late 2015.[1] Ultimately, the fan poll on X, then called Twitter, resulted in the "Colonial Cup" being the winner,[20] although the rivalry is rarely referred to as that term.[21]
Into the late 2010s and early 2020s the rivalry intensified, marked with heavily decisive victories the Union had over United, particularly in 2022 when the Union beat United in both matches of the regular season, by an aggregate score of 13–0: winning 7–0 at home and 6–0 on the road.
Results
editUnited win Union win Draw
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2010s (Union, 15–14–7)
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2020s (Union, 8–1–4)
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Players and transfers
edit
United, then Union
edit| Name | Pos | D.C. United | Philadelphia | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals | ||
 Chris Albright |
DF | 1999–2001 | 56 | 4 | 2012–2013 | 10 | 0 |
| Justin Mapp |
DF | 2002 | 3 | 0 | 2010–2011 | 44 | 4 |
 Fred |
MF | 2007–2009 | 72 | 11 | 2010 | 25 | 4 |
| Fred |
MF | 2011 | 17 | 0 | 2014–2015 | 17 | 1 |
| Brian Carroll |
MF | 2003–2007 | 121 | 2 | 2011–2017 | 166 | 5 |
| Freddy Adu |
FW | 2004–2006 | 87 | 11 | 2011–2013 | 35 | 7 |
| Andrew Jacobson |
MF | 2009 | 17 | 0 | 2010 | 25 | 0 |
| Chris Pontius |
FW | 2009–2015 | 152 | 31 | 2016–2017 | 63 | 14 |
| Charlie Davies |
FW | 2011 | 26 | 11 | 2016–2017 | 11 | 0 |
| Ethan White |
DF | 2011–2013 | 38 | 1 | 2014–2015 | 28 | 0 |
| Danny Cruz |
MF | 2012 | 16 | 1 | 2012–2015 | 70 | 7 |
Union, then United
edit| Name | Pos | Philadelphia | D.C. United | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fred |
MF | 2010 | 25 | 4 | 2011 | 17 | 0 |
| Chris Seitz |
GK | 2010 | 23 | 0 | 2019–2021 | 11 | 0 |
 Carlos Ruiz |
FW | 2011 | 14 | 6 | 2013 | 13 | 0 |
| Michael Farfan |
MF | 2011–2013 | 82 | 4 | 2015 | 17 | 0 |
 Lionard Pajoy |
FW | 2012 | 20 | 5 | 2012–2013 | 33 | 5 |
| Jeff Parke |
DF | 2013 | 31 | 0 | 2014 | 13 | 0 |
Statistics
editAll-time wins
edit- As of September 22, 2024
| Competitions | Matches | DC wins | DC goals | Draws | PHI wins | PHI goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Soccer | 36 | 8 | 36 | 8 | 20 | 75 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 4 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Suncoast Invitational | 5 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| WDW Pro Soccer Classic | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other friendlies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Total | 49 | 15 | 61 | 11 | 23 | 94 |
Honors
editWith 13 major honors, D.C. United have won more major competitions than any other Major League Soccer club,[22] and are tied for the most of any North American soccer franchise ever.[23] D.C. United won their first major title in 1996, winning the 1996 MLS Cup championship. Since then, they have claimed three additional MLS Cups (league championship), four Supporters' Shields (league premiership), three U.S. Open Cups (national championship) and one CONCACAF Champions Cup title (continental championship). In addition, United won the 1998 Copa Interamericana, an infrequently-held and now-defunct super cup between the champions of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.
Philadelphia won their sole major title in 2020 when they won the Supporters Shield for having the best regular season record. They reached the U.S. Open Cup final in 2014, 2015, and 2018 and in 2022 were the runners-up in the MLS Cup final.
- Table correct as of January 22, 2023
| Honor | D.C. United | Philadelphia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titles | Last Won | Titles | Last Won | |
| MLS Cup | 4 | 2004 | 0 | — |
| Supporters Shield | 4 | 2007 | 1 | 2020 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 3 | 2013 | 0 | — |
| Eastern Conference regular season | 6 | 2014 | 2 | 2022 |
| Eastern Conference post-season | 5 | 2004 | 1 | 2022 |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup[c] | 1 | 1998 | 0 | — |
| Leagues Cup[d] | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| Copa Interamericana | 1 | 1998 | 0 | — |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| Total | 24 | 2014 | 4 | 2022 |
Top goalscorers
editBold denotes player is still able to play in competition. Updated through the game played on November 8, 2020
- As of October 6, 2024, at least three goals included in table
| Scorer | Club | G |
|---|---|---|
 Sébastien Le Toux
|
Philadelphia Union | 8 |
 Julián Carranza
|
Philadelphia Union | 6 |
 Kacper Przybyłko
|
Philadelphia Union | 5 |
| Alejandro Bedoya
|
Philadelphia Union | 4 |
| Chris Pontius
|
D.C. United | 4 |
| Luciano Acosta
|
D.C. United | 3 |
 Daniel Gazdag
|
Philadelphia Union | 3 |
| Lionard Pajoy
|
D.C. United | 3 |
 Fafà Picault
|
Philadelphia Union | 3 |
 Mikael Uhre
|
Philadelphia Union | 3 |
| Josh Wolff
|
D.C. United | 3 |
Eastern Conference standings finishes
editD.C. United Philadelphia Union
| P. | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| 13 | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| 15 |
• Total: D.C. United with 6 higher finishes, Philadelphia Union with 9 higher finishes.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c Match was played behind closed doors due to local regulations pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ Match was played at 30% stadium capacity due to local regulations pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ Known as the CONCACAF Champions League from 2008 until 2023.
- ^ Includes the North American SuperLiga that was played from 2007 until 2011.
References
edit- ^ a b Wine II, Donald (May 6, 2016). "The Shertz-Gemmell Cup is the right name for the DC-Philadelphia rivalry". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ Kallassy, Sarah (August 20, 2022). "It's a rivalry now: D.C. United devastated 0-6 by Philadelphia Union at home". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Zeitlin, Dave (April 27, 2018). "Revisiting the crazy, unforgettable moments from the Philadelphia Union-D.C. United rivalry". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ "Capitals vs. Flyers: The Philthy Rivalry". January 27, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ Morik, Ryan (November 1, 2023). "Eagles, Commanders fans brawl in stands during rivalry game". Fox News. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Weyrich, Matt (April 10, 2019). "Nationals vs. Phillies has become one of the best rivalries in baseball". Federal Baseball. SB Nation. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Lowenberger, William (April 27, 1975). "Strengthened NASL looks to great interest, attendance as 9th season begins". The Baltimore Sun. p. 33. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Jasner, Phil (March 30, 1978). "Newcomer's Guide to NASL" (Print). Philadelphia Daily News. Knight Ridder. p. 54. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (May 31, 2014). "World Cup in 1994 gave U.S. soccer the kick in the pants it needed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "General Overview". Major League Soccer. 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ Yates, Clinton (June 30, 2015). "D.C. United almost had a different name". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ West, Phil (April 5, 2020). "How DC United and the San Jose Clash got their names and original look". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ Hollander, Sophia (September 9, 2001). "Is the Field Getting Too Crowded?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ "MLS awards Philadelphia 2010 expansion team". February 28, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
- ^ "Major hurdle cleared for Philly expansion". MLSnet.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Creditor, Avi (April 12, 2010). "Philadelphia Union 3, D.C. United 2: A Look Back". sbisoccer.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Goff, Steven (August 23, 2010). "United finds relief as long skid ends". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Wine II, Donald (May 14, 2014). "View From The Capo Stand: When Soccer Comes Second". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Maurer, Pablo; Zeitlin, Dave (May 17, 2016). "The burgeoning Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United rivalry: The history". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ @dcunited (May 4, 2016). "A rivalry for the people, by the people. Vote to name Cup for United v. Union on May 20th" (Tweet). Retrieved October 6, 2024 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Streff, Steven (May 19, 2016). "Philadelphia Union game just a 'friendly rivalry' to Ben Olsen". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ de los Rios, Gabriel (August 23, 2011). "Soccer Almanac: MLS Trophy Case (infographic)". MLS. MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ "USA – List of Champions of US Pro Soccer League, Division I". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF.com. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.