Late Uhre goal lifts Union past winless Montreal

It wasn’t pretty, but it was three points. The Philadelphia Union edged CF Montréal 2-1 in a match that had flashes of quality but was largely disjointed.

Philadelphia opened the scoring early with a well-executed team goal. Starting from their own half on the right flank, a series of quick one-touch passes moved the ball upfield with purpose. The sequence ended with Jean-Jacques cutting the ball back at the top of the box for Vassilev, who calmly slotted it home with his weaker right foot.

It felt like a moment that might set the tone for the night, but in reality, it gave the Union a false sense of security. Instead of pressing for a second, they looked content to hold their lead and began playing passively. That approach allowed Montreal to grow into the game, hungry for their first win of the season.

In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Montreal equalized off a sloppy passage of play. A short corner was sent back into the box, where a mistimed clearance from Mahkanya gave Montreal the chance they needed. Vrioni capitalized, and the momentum shifted.

From there, the home side pushed forward with energy. Owusu and Sealy, in particular, caused real problems with their pace and direct running. The Union defense struggled to cope, and the attack offered little in response. Despite cycling through every forward on the roster, Philadelphia could not find any real rhythm in the final third. Baribo was especially quiet, failing to register a single shot.

Then, out of nowhere, came the winner. In the 84th minute, after a sloppy exchange in midfield, Jovan Lukic pounced on a loose ball and slipped a well-timed through pass to Uhre. The finish was clean, and it came from virtually nothing, but it was enough to secure the win.

Montreal continued to push for a second goal but lacked precision in the final moments. They finished with 12 shots and 59 percent possession but managed just two shots on target. Philadelphia, by comparison, had nine shots with four on frame and an xG of just 0.71 compared to Montreal’s 1.86.

Still, it was a gritty win on the road and an encouraging sign for a Union team that dropped too many points from winning positions last season. Head coach Bradley Carnell has shown a willingness to rotate and adapt, moving players like Harriel into new roles depending on the match situation. In this game, Harriel came on as a wide midfielder, functioning almost as an extra fullback to help close down space on Montreal’s left. It was a clear tactical move to shut down a growing threat down the right side of the Union’s defense.

Despite the change in coaching, the Union still resemble the high-energy, counter-pressing side that was a hallmark of the Jim Curtin era. The build-up play remains inconsistent, and when opponents manage to avoid cheap turnovers, Philadelphia struggles to generate consistent attacking opportunities.

That will be something to monitor going forward, especially with matches against possession-oriented teams like Miami and Columbus looming later in May.

For now, though, the Union will take the three points and turn their attention to their upcoming Open Cup match at home against Indy Eleven, followed by a quick turnaround with two more league fixtures.