Too many mistakes, not enough chemistry lead to loss against Nashville

The Philadelphia Union fell to Nashville SC on Sunday in a frustrating match filled with mistakes, missed opportunities, and controversial officiating. While referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere made several questionable calls, the Union’s struggles went beyond officiating—they failed to find consistency on either side of the ball. 

Throughout the game, the Union relied heavily on crosses to generate scoring chances, but Nashville shut them down one by one. The Union insisted on sending balls into the box, only for Nashville’s defenders to cut them out with ease. Instead of adjusting their approach, the Union struggled to break through Nashville’s backline. This over-reliance on crossing made their attack predictable, allowing Nashville to position their defenders perfectly to clear away dangerous balls.

“They played the same way we did. I think they scouted us really well. They knew what we were going to do,” Union goalkeeper Andre Blake said. “But they had a game plan, and they were very physical, and we just weren’t able to match their physicality, and they got the better of us.”

In the 58th minute, a Union forward sent a beautiful cross into the box for Daniel Gazdag, who found himself open in a one-on-one against Nashville keeper Joe Willis. But Gazdag’s weak shot went right into Willis’ legs, resulting in a wasted opportunity. It was one of the Union’s best chances of the afternoon, and had Gazdag put more placement behind the shot, the game could have taken a different turn. 

This moment highlighted the Union’s struggles with finishing. Willis, to his credit, read the play well and made himself big in goal, but Gazdag will surely regret not capitalizing on the moment.

“I thought we created a bit of momentum. We created some set pieces. Credit to the boys that they didn’t fold. We could have created enough chances today to walk away with at least a point,” Union head coach Bradley Carnell said in a post-game press conference.

Defensively, the Union left themselves exposed, particularly on the right side. Defender Francis Westfield found himself repeatedly chasing down Nashville’s long balls, leaving gaps in the backline. Nashville took advantage, easily finding space to attack and putting pressure on the Union defense. 

“I think they did a good job of breaking down the momentum,” Carnell said. “The players are really upset about the proceedings today, and rightly so. We set a high standard, and not every day is going to go our way. And today was one of those days.”

Adding to the team’s struggles, many Union players slipped throughout the match, making it easier for Nashville to break through and create scoring opportunities. This only added to the disorganization at the back, as defenders scrambled to recover from mistakes, often leaving attackers, like Nashville attacker Samuel Surridge, unmarked in dangerous areas.

“It wasn’t good enough from me,” Union defender Jakob Glesnes said. “I have to learn from that and just raise my head again, because it’s a new game on Saturday. So, we have to work hard now and into the next game.”

While the referee’s decisions played a role in shaping the game, the Union’s lack of chemistry and inability to adjust tactically were the bigger issues. If they want to bounce back in their next match against St. Louis, they’ll need to clean up their mistakes, tighten their defense, and find more creative ways to break down their opponents.

“It’s no secret what we’re doing,” Blake said. “Other teams are scouting us, so it’s going to get more difficult, but again, the real teams find different ways to win. We’re gonna have to go back and watch the film and go from there.”