Bradley Carnell's first year as coach of the Philadelphia Union has been a revelation, as he has transformed a team that finished 12th in the MLS Eastern Conference last year into a winner of the Supporters' Shield.

Now it is on to the postseason for the Union, who open a three-game series at home against the Chicago Fire on Sunday night in Chester, Pa.

Philadelphia is attempting to capture the MLS Cup for the first time and become the eighth team in league history to win the title after finishing with the best regular-season record.

The last club to accomplish the feat was Los Angeles FC in 2022, when they topped the visiting Union on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 3-3 draw.

"The last time that we were in this position, where we finished first in the East, we had to go away

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