In Photos: Philadelphia Union top Columbus Crew SC 3-2 and lead Eastern Conference

It is always a fun experience to shoot a Union match at Talen Energy Stadium. I was out for my first match Wednesday night that saw the Union take on the Columbus Crew before the Copa America Centenario break. Union keeper Matt Jones made his MLS debut as Andre Blake was called up to the Jamaican National Team for the upcoming tournament being played in the U.S.

Columbus scored first after several potent Union attacks and that seemed to take some air out of the crowd who thought the Union would have scored first since they were in control up to that point. As always the Sons of Ben kept the pressure on the visiting keeper while he was a guest in the River End net and the Union managed to tie the score eventually.

The second half saw the Union take control and build a 3-1 lead. A late score by the Crew cut the lead to 3-2 but the Union pulled it out and now find themselves atop the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 23 points.

Below is a selection of my favorite photos from the match.

The Color Guard takes the field before the match

Both sides stand for the national anthem before the match

Le Toux comes close to putting the Union in front early in the match but Crew keeper Steve Clark makes a great save

Fabinho controls the ball on the offensive side with plenty of space as he looks for the open man.

The River End was out in force as the Sons of Ben show their support.

CJ Sapong runs down the ball in the first half. CJ is tied with Chris Pontius with the most goals for the Union this season.

Celebration…the Union tie the match at 1-1 on a goal by Chris Pontius.

The Sons of Ben were relentless against the visiting Crew keeper Steve Clark for the first half. It was nice to see him crack a smile on occasion as he could do nothing but laugh at the constant taunts.

Rookie Keegan Rosenberry works the offensive end late in the first half.

Jim Curtin gives the River End a golfers clap for a job well done in the first half that saw his team come back from a 1-0 deficit to tie it on a Pontius score.

Tranquillo Barnetta works the midfield early in the second half

Pontius comes within inches of putting the Union ahead on the corner from Barnetta, but the Crew keeper is able to punch the ball away.

Even Keegan Rosenberry can’t believe the red card against former Union fan favorite Conor Casey

The long walk of shame when you realize you have to walk past the Sons of Ben after getting a red card against your former team.

It was nice to see him salute the River End as he exited the field…it was even nicer to see the love and applause for the former Union player.

Sebastien Le Toux leaves a Crew player in his wake as we works the ball toward goal.

Union keeper Matt Jones tracks the corner to try and clear it from the box. Jones made his MLS debut against the Crew and came out victorious 3-2.

David Musante serves as the team photographer for Reading United A.C. and is owner of Penn Images. He also covers Reading United for The Brotherly Game.