Wagner’s heroics, good fortune help Union storm to late 2-1 win at Toronto

After going down in the 75th minute at BMO Field, the Union dug deep to find two goals in six minutes to stun Toronto, keyed by a special night from left back Kai Wagner.

Wagner’s superb service was the story of the night, as was the Union’s fight, and the German’s pinpoint assist to Nathan Harriel on the equalizer and “fortune-favors-the-bold” deflected strike from the distance for the stoppage-time winner secured a rousing three points to stay atop the table.

The Union extended their unbeaten streak to eight games with six wins and two draws, and finished the night with 33 points, good for a three point lead over Nashville and Cincinnati.

Toronto finished the game in 14th place in the conference and moved to 3-5-9.

The Union brought an inspired effort after the late collapse at home on Saturday against Inter Miami, and despite getting sucker punched for a late Toronto lead out of very little, the Union’s industriousness and spirit more than earned the comeback.

To start, the Union rolled out the 4-2-2-2, with Andre Blake returning in goal, Jesus Bueno filling in for Danley Jean-Jacques, and Harriel sliding into the left center back role, with Frankie Westfield at right back. Bruno Damiani got the nod up top alongside Tai Baribo.

Toronto deployed a 3-5-2, and throughout the first half, the Union’s intensity and duel dominance helped control the majority of proceedings. The Union were able to lock Toronto inside their own half and clean up any attempts to buy time with smart counter pressing by the front four and aggressive recoveries by the back six.

The Union found their best chances with direct long balls to the strike partnership up top and finding secondary runners. Indiana Vassilev had a few dangerous moments as a shadow striker, and by constantly making runs into the back line, there was plenty of space for Wagner to take up dangerous crossing positions on the left, and his delivery was excellent.

He found Baribo on a great delivery, who was just offside, and arced a juicy ball for Damiani in the 11th minute that the Uruguayan met with a deft scissoring effort barely saved by Sean Johnson.

Toronto broke up the field sparingly but forced a flurry towards the back of the half when Blake made a good save on a close-range effort from Jonathan Osorio. The Union’s best chance in the frame came on another left sided cross to Bueno, who found himself unmarked for a volley in the middle of the box only to redirect his effort tamely at Johnson.

To start the second half, Quinn Sullivan and Vassilev swapped sides, and while both had decent attacking positions whenever they picked up the ball, Toronto was more adventurous in getting up the field to force the Union to defend. Wagner flashed a dangerous ball across goal in the 63rd minute, but it was much quieter for the visitors than in the first half.

Carnell introduced Jean-Jacques and Uhre into the game in the 67th minute for Bueno and Damiani and the Union again looked livelier. The game opened up for an exciting finish, with both teams genuinely looking to get numbers up the field with any opportunity.

But with both teams stretched, the Union got caught out on a misplaced pass from Sullivan and a speculative long ball over Harriel’s head to Ola Brynhildsen in the 75th minute. The Norwegian striker had an unimpeded path towards goal, and despite the slightly tight angle, he rifled his shot off the underside of the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

https://x.com/MLS/status/1927898684873703872

🇳🇴 Ola Brynhildsen with a missile and @TorontoFC lead the first-place Union with 15 mins to go! 😳 pic.twitter.com/M3YAf3F8jj

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 29, 2025

Alejandro Bedoya came on for Vassilev, and the Union gave an honest chase for an equalizer with crosses from Wagner the preferred route of attack. Ben Bender also came on shortly after for Sullivan.

And finally, on a corner kick in the 86th minute, Wagner pinged an arrowing cross in the 86th minute to a leaping Harriel, who smashed a towering header in the back of the net for an equalizer.

https://x.com/MLS/status/1927900215916310664

The Union answer right back! 🤯

Its tied late in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/9Hn3c81xkh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 29, 2025

In the closing stages, Baribo nearly met an inswinging Wagner cross from the other side but narrowly glanced his effort wide as the Union pressed for the three points.

Two minutes into stoppage time, the danger man for the Union got a deserved deflection on a shot from distance when he found a few yards of space. Wagner hit his effort hard enough, and the double carom off the legs of Charlie Sharp landed untouchably into the top corner.

https://x.com/MLS/status/1927902288045105349

Kai Wagner may have just stole all 3 points for the @PhilaUnion! 😤

What a comeback. pic.twitter.com/lNDGadJQZI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 29, 2025

Toronto could do very little in the closing stages, and in the half-second of danger when Osorio found himself behind the Union back line, Bedoya, of course, was the man to poke the ball away with a recovery run.

The Union finished the night ahead 1.38 to 0.91 on expected goals, and despite a frustrating 80 minutes, kept the inspired start to the season on track with a fantastic closing effort.