The Philadelphia Union came into matchday 14 against Columbus still searching for their first win at home in the 2026 MLS season, and getting that done on Saturday night would have gone a long way in changing the mood in the locker room heading towards the looming World Cup Break after starting the season with a 1W-3D-9L record.
Columbus Crew midfielder Daniel Gazdag (8) and Philadelphia Union defender Geiner Martinez (2) battle for the ball in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross
Andre Blake got the start in net after seeing some squad rotation from Bradley Carnell down in Orlando midweek. Carnell stayed with the same backline that let in 4 against the Lions on Wednesday, consisting of Nate Harriel at Right Back, Olwethu Makhanya and Geiner Martinez as the two Center Backs, and Ben Bender at Left Back.
Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean-Jacques, who were officially named as part of Haiti's World Cup squad earlier this week, lined up in the double pivot in front of the defensive backline. Indiana Vassilev and Cavan Sullivan got the nod as the attacking midfield duo after Cavan netted his first MLS goal against Orlando City. Bruno Damiani and Milan Iloski rounded out the attack up top for the blue and gold.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) reacts against the Columbus Crew in the first half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross
In the 10th minute of the game, Columbus broke the deadlock after a failed clearance originating from a free kick found the Crew’s Hugo Picard just outside the box. Picard settled the ball, turned towards the net, and lofted a right-footed goal-of-the-week candidate over the outstretched fingertips of Andre Blake to give the visitors the early lead at Subaru Park. Picard’s early goal marked the 10th time this season in which the Union has conceded the opening goal of the game.
Milan Iloski almost stunned the crowd and leveled the game in the 36th minute when he lined up and put a right-footed volley into a defensive clearance headed out of the box, but his shot flew just wide of the post to Patrick Schulte’s left.
Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Union in the first half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross
In the 69th minute, the Union found its way back into the game via Milan Iloski. Agustin Anello, who came off the bench at half-time for Jovan Lukic, darted down the left wing and into the Crew’s penalty area with the ball at his feet.
Anello squared the ball towards the middle of the box, where Milan Iloski was waiting to tap in the tying goal. The equalizer from Iloski was his 4th goal of the MLS campaign, and his 2nd in consecutive games.
In the 84th minute, Cavan Sullivan forced Patrick Schutle into a quick-reaction save after Ben Bender worked his way into the box to the goalkeeper’s left and sent a ball across the middle of the penalty area. Sullivan got a slight touch to Bender’s cross, which redirected on net, but Schulte was quick enough to keep the ball out and the game level.
In the final moments of the match and with the Union desperately searching for the game-winner, the blue and gold earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area, setting them up with an opportunity to claim all 3 points with the last kick of the game, but Cavan Sullivan’s attempt on goal was collected by Schulte to end Saturday’s contest in a 1-1 draw.
Philadelphia Union forward Agustin Anello (28) celebrates with teammates after assisting a goal against the Columbus Crew in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross
The 1-1 result at Subaru Park means the Union’s record moved to 1W-4D-9L through 14 games of the season, and the Union is sitting in last place with one game left until the World Cup break. Looking back to last year, when the blue and gold lifted the Supporters’ Shield as Major League Soccer’s best regular season team, Bradley Carnell’s side held a record of 9W-2D-3L through the first 14 matches and were sitting top of the MLS table.
The Union will head down to South Florida next Sunday to take on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at Nu Stadium before breaking for the World Cup for almost 2 months. Going into that break on a positive note feels pivotal to this team’s chances of turning the season around, digging themselves out of the bottom of the MLS table, and fighting for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Columbus Crew midfielder Daniel Gazdag (8) and Philadelphia Union defender Geiner Martinez (2) battle for the ball in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross
