Union drop first match of the season to Nashville SC at home

The Union entered Sunday tying their record for the best start to an MLS campaign at 3-0-0. With a red-hot striker, Tai Baribo, already netting six goals this season, and Blake and the backline posting their first shutout of the season last week, everything seemed to be going Philly’s way in the opening window of Bradley Carnell’s Union tenure.

Still, every rise has its fall.

After a mild start to the match, the action picked up in the 15th minute when Sam Surridge opened the scoring for the visitors. A few overcommitments from the Philly backline led to a point-blank finish from the former Nottingham Forest forward that left Blake all but defenseless between the sticks.

However, the Boys in Blue did not trail for long. In the 33rd minute, a rebound off of a corner fell to the boot of Jovan Lukic, who slammed home the equalizer. The Serbian midfielder has now recorded two goals in two matches, both off the volley from distance.

What felt like a momentum shift for the Union proved demoralizing just before the half when 21-year-old winger Ahmed Qasem worked his way behind an unorganized Union back four to net the go-ahead goal. While the match against New England brought a sense of security to the Union defensively, posting their first shutout of the season, this match emulated more of the same from their season opener in Orlando. Disorganization was the name of the game for a Philly defense that has been anything but convincing to start the 2025 campaign.

“Conceding before halftime was probably one of the killers…” Carnell commented following the match, disappointed with his first drop of points under his Philly tenure.

The second 45 minutes contained enough drama to make it feel like an entirely new game. After a slow opening 10 minutes, Daniel Gazdag was denied at close range in the 58th minute by Joe Willis, who made four saves throughout the afternoon. In the moments that followed, Philly stretched the play to Quinn Sullivan on the flank, who was brought down in the box, sending match official Pierre-Luc Lauziere to the VAR board for his first review of the evening.

This began a series of calls that sent the match into a frenzy.

Lauziere decided that the ruling on the pitch stood, and the Union were left without a chance to equalize, much to the distaste of the Union faithful. What little momentum the Boys in Blue possessed following their chances seemed to dissipate in this moment, as Nashville sat behind the ball and began to lull the Union to their first loss of the season.

In the 82nd minute, a Nashville throw-in deep in Philadelphia’s half resulted in the second VAR check of the match, where Jakob Glesnes’ late challenge on Hany Mukhtar put the former MLS Regular Season MVP on the spot to double Nashville’s lead.

With 11 minutes of stoppage time to round out an afternoon of drama, the Philadelphia Union did not go quietly into the evening. Late substitute Chris Donovan drew a late penalty for the Boys in Blue, which put Quinn Sullivan on the spot, only to be denied by Joe Willis on a double save that also left Bruno Damiani without his second goal of the season.

To put the first loss of the season on ice, a visibly frustrated Philly side also finished the match a man short when Olwethu Makhanya saw a straight red in the 102nd minute for an altercation with Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg.

When asked about the result, Carnell responded, “We lost momentum at key moments of the game…We wipe this one off and we go again next week; it’s up to us now to respond to this.”

A shaky performance from the Union was matched with the final result. Four weeks into the season, it seems as though the ceiling for the Boys in Blue will only go as high as their back four allow. With a few shaky performances to start the 2025 season, organization from the back is key to success in the front. With an energetic and high-pressing attack, the defenders on Philadelphia need to hone in on protecting the gaps that a high press will create for a counter.

The Union stay at home next weekend with a shot at St. Louis City FC, and without Olwethu Makhanya, all eyes will be on the Union defense against an unbeaten St. Louis side.