February 26, 2023
Chester, PA
If Saturday night’s game is a harbinger of the 2023 MLS Season, then the Philadelphia Union’s prospects are looking very good. The game against Columbus Crew SC stood in stark contrast to the beginning of Philadelphia’s 2022 season, when it took months for the Union to get past a seemingly endless streak of draws.
Columbus is good, there is no mistaking that. Its pass and cut possession dominated much of the first half. The first goal went to Columbus, in the 28th minute, which was scored an own-goal by Philadelphia’s Jakob Glesnes. At this early point, the Crew was decidedly in control. But in first half stoppage time, the Crew’s Mohamed Farsi was called for a hand ball in the penalty area. Philadelphia’s Dániel Gazdag converted the penalty with a shot to the bottom right corner of the Columbus goal to end the half with a score of 1-1..
One might wonder how important that first penalty was to the game’s outcome, and certainly a 1-1 draw at half helped. But Philadelphia came out of the locker room with a second half vengeance. At the 52nd minute, Philadelphia’s Alejandro Bedoya crossed left, hitting his mark off of Julián Carranza’s left foot, which skipped into the Columbus goal which gave Philadelphia the lead. In the 71st minute, Columbus’s Milos Degenek also was called for a hand ball in the box. Once again, Gazdag converted the penalty to make the game score 3-1.
Philadelphia fans do love a good foot-work show, having had the pleasure of watching the retired Ilsinho scissor-step through defenders. The fans were given a similar treat when Coach Jim Curtin subbed in Joaquín Torres for Mikael Uhre. Moments after the substitution, Torres spun around Columbus’s Philip Quinton and top-balled past Darlington Nagbe, which gave Torres a mere split second to make the perfect through pass to Carranza. Having been given such a gem of a pass, Carranza scored with a shot to the left corner of the Crew goal.
Photographs of the game appear below:
Philadelphia’s Andre Blake saving the free kick taken by Columbus’s Lucas Zelarayán.
Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner sniping the ball from the Crew’s Mohamed Farsi.
The Union’s Jakob Glesnes following Lucas Zelarayán
Darlington Nagbe meeting up with Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott.
Columbus may have celebrated a bit too early in the game, seen here after the Glesnes own goal.
Columbus’s Philip Quinton tries to shield Carranza from the Crew’s keeper, Patrick Schulte.
Philadelphia’s Dániel Gazdag converting the second of two penalty shots.
This was Carranza’s shot off of the assist by Joaquín Torres for Philadelphia’s 4th goal.
Captain Alejandro Bedoya riling up the crowd after Philadelphia took the lead in the second half.
