Thu | Dec 12, 2024

Reggae Boyz trio in MLS Cup play-off battle today

Published:Saturday | November 20, 2021 | 9:02 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Pause
Cory Burke Jamaica forward Cory Burke (9) heads the ball away from Guadeloupe defender Kevin Moeson, back left, during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C soccer match, Friday, July 16, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP
Cory Burke Jamaica forward Cory Burke (9) heads the ball away from Guadeloupe defender Kevin Moeson, back left, during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C soccer match, Friday, July 16, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
File Alvas Powell (front)
File
File Alvas Powell (front)
Andre Blake
File
Andre Blake
1
2
3

With the international window now closed for the rest of the year, national goalkeeper and captain, Andre Blake, defender Alvas Powell and striker Cory Burke will look to take one step towards a championship for their Major League Soccer Club (MLS) team, the Philadelphia Union.

Union will take on the New York Red Bulls this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the first round of the MLS Cup play-offs at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

The Jamaican trio, who were called up for the recent November World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and the United States, respectively, are expected to feature in the Union's quest to win their first MLS Cup title in franchise history.

Union finished the regular season second in the Eastern Conference this campaign with 54 points, earning them a home play-off game. While Blake featured in both games for the Reggae Boyz, Burke played 27 minutes against El Salvador and was an unused substitute for the home game against the United States. Powell did not feature in any of the two games.

The encounter is also a play-off rematch of their 2019 MLS Cup first-round game which the Union won 4-3 after extra time.

Blake has had a consistent 2021 season with the Union and has been nominated as a finalist for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second straight season. He is a two-time winner of the award (2016, 2020). Blake produced 12 clean sheets this season, tied for the most in franchise history in a single season and has amassed 50 league shut-outs in his career.

Among the finalists for the award are the New England Revolution's Matt Turner and Nashville SC's Joe Willis.

Meanwhile, Burke has scored four goals and registered two assists in his 19 appearances so far this year for Union. Powell, who signed with the Union this summer after a stint in Sudan earlier this year, has made only five league appearances this season for the club. He has not played since early October as a hamstring injury suffered in the World Cup qualifier against Canada ruled him out for five straight games.

He was on the bench for the Union's season finale against New York City FC on November 7.

The winner of the game will face either Nashville SC or Orlando City in the conference semi-finals.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.