Four years ago, the Philadelphia Union didn’t look like they could not make the MLS championship.

This season?  The Union played 19 home games and didn’t lose any of them. In fact, they won 3-1 Sunday in the Eastern Conference final, writes Jonathan Tannenwald for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Now they’re heading to the MLS championship game for the first time Saturday against Los Angeles FC.

“As proud as I’ve ever been as a coach to see this grow in this city the way it has,” said manager Jim Curtin. “Year by year, gradually get better and better, to be talked about and get the mentions with the Phillies and the Sixers and the Eagles and the Flyers.”

These days, opponents don’t like playing against the Union. It wears them down over 90 minutes, Curtin said.

 “After the disappointment of last season, with COVID and everything, and we didn’t get a fair shot. This year, we did,” said Union player Cory Burke said.

Union captain Alejandro Bedoya reflects on the team’s growth in mental fortitude since his arrival in 2016.

Things have changed in the types of players that are coming in and a change in mentality.

“It’s a change of culture,” he said.

Read more about the Philadelphia Union advancing to the MLS Championship game at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Here are highlights of the Philadelphia Union’s winning Eastern Conference game.