PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Union captain Alejandro Bedoya is doubling down on the professional sports franchise he represents — and for good reason.
“Here in Philly they got a saying that says ‘Trust The Process,’” Bedoya told a limited number of fans at Subaru Park on Sunday. “Nah, nah, nah — trust our process, right? This is a five-for-five city. Put some respect on our name.”
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Last week, Bedoya said, “I think we’re the best team in Philly right now,” but he doesn't think the Union get the media coverage they deserve compared to the other Philly professional sports teams.
Three days later, he was lifting up the Union’s first trophy in their 11-year history — the Supporters’ Shield — which goes to Major League Soccer’s top regular season team. They clinched the shield with a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution.
“This is the Supporters’ Shield for a reason,” Bedoya said during the on-field post-match celebration, which was streamed on the Union's YouTube channel. “Y’all have waited for this for a long time, and we finally got that silverware.”
Major League Soccer fans created this trophy, and a couple members of the Sons of Ben — the longtime Union supporters who were instrumental in the formation of the franchise — presented the shield to the team.
“This organization was established by the fans,” defender Ray Gaddis — who is playing his ninth season with the Union — told the crowd. “Without the fans, we wouldn’t have a team here.”
Gaddis also connected the team's achievement to very recent current events: “Good things happen in Philadelphia. Let’s keep it real!”
Head Coach Jim Curtin, a local guy from Oreland, has been in his role since 2014. He recognizes the hard work and patience has paid off.
“I think all Philadelphians, and Philadelphia soccer fans in particular, and Union fans, should walk a little bit taller, be a little bit prouder and make sure that our guys drink for free in this city for a long time to come,” Curtin said during his post-match press conference.
Speaking to the media later, Gaddis echoed the sentiments of Union majority owner Jay Sugarman, who said, “In this year full of challenges, they fought for each other, they fought for our fans and they fought for what’s right. And they showed what our club stands for.”
A reporter asked Gaddis what it meant to achieve this after the light they shined on racial and social injustice through the season.
He said their Black Lives Matter demonstration, at the July "MLS Is Back" Tournament in Orlando, really brought the team closer together.
“To really have a greater understanding, not just about ways of life from different backgrounds, but just a mutual respect for each person, and that’s really translated on the field,” Gaddis said.
Another storyline that can’t go unnoticed from Sunday concerns 22-year-old Union goalie Matt Freese, from Wayne, Pa. He was filling in for Andre Blake, who is recovering from a fractured hand. Freese was in the stands for the Union’s first home game 11 years ago. On Sunday, he was the guy standing in net during one of the best moments in franchise history.
“Definitely could not have imagined this,” Freese said. “I dreamed about it, but didn’t know it was coming.”
The Union hope Sunday's win isn’t the only dream come true this season. Winning the Supporters’ Shield gives the Union home field throughout the playoffs for the MLS Cup — another trophy they’d like to win.
Sunday’s win over New England put their home record at 9-0-0 this season. Curtin said there is more work for them to do.
“This group has the ability to beat any team in MLS and, also now, the MLS Cup goes through Subaru Park.”