Union Fall to Nashville on late penalty, slip out of first place in East

The Philadelphia Union dropped their second straight game, falling 1-0 to Nashville SC in a hard-fought battle at GEODIS Park. Just like the first meeting between these two sides earlier this season, it was another frustrating loss for the Union. This time, the match was sealed by a Hany Mukhtar penalty deep into stoppage time.

It was a physical and scrappy game from start to finish, exactly what you’d expect from two teams built on grit and defensive effort. Possession was split 50/50, and both teams showed flashes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Nashville had 12 shots with 4 on target, while the Union managed 11 shots and 3 on target. The big difference came in quality chances. Nashville created five big chances, while the Union only had two.

The decisive moment came in the 100th minute. Union defender Olwethu Makahnya tried to break up a play that would’ve left Mukhtar 1-on-1 with Andre Blake. At first, the foul wasn’t called, but after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Mukhtar stepped up and buried it straight down the middle with power. It was a heartbreaking end to a game that the Union had battled in all night.

The Union did get some good news before kickoff. Center back Jakob Glesnes returned to play the full 90 minutes, and striker Tai Baribo came off the bench later in the game. Baribo, who leads the team with 13 goals, has been sorely missed during this recent stretch, and without his spark, the Union’s attack has looked flat. His return will be key moving forward.

One of the Union’s best areas was again the midfield. Lukic and Danely continue to show off their tireless engines, winning battles and putting out fires. On the left, Kai Wagner worked hard to be a threat going forward, and almost scored a beauty on a long-range free kick that smacked off the post. A lot of the Union’s attacking threat sits on his shoulders, especially without a true playmaker in the squad. 

Before Mukhtar’s penalty, he also struck the post in a play that forced Blake into action. Andre Blake’s save was followed up once again by Mukhtar, who hit the woodwork on a left-footed shot.  

The game took a turn in the 63rd minute when Nashville’s Jonathan Perez was shown a red card for a high boot on Union striker Tai Baribo. It gave the Union a man advantage, but they ultimately couldn’t make it count. 

Young Cavan Sullivan made MLS history with his first career start, becoming the youngest player to start for the Union and the second-youngest ever to start an MLS match, only behind Freddy Adu. Sullivan started on the right with Indiana Vassilev moving to the left, but Nashville locked him down and limited his impact.

Nashville has now beaten the Union twice this season, taking the first match back in March at Subaru Park, and today with the win at GEODIS Park. After the win, Nashville continues its unbeaten run. Their ability to grind out results looks a lot like the Union’s usual style, but the big difference is Hany Mukhtar. He’s the creative spark that Philadelphia is still missing. The ability of someone who can create something out of nothing is lacking desperately in this Union group. 

Up next, the Union face the New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal on Wednesday, July 9th. Then, they’ll play them again in MLS action on Saturday, July 12th. With depth still an issue and back-to-back losses piling up, Philly will need to dig deep. The question now is what they choose to focus on. Will they chase a trophy in the Open Cup or stay strong in the league? With a small trophy cabinet and playoffs being so far away, the Union will surely keep the train moving full speed ahead towards the Open Cup. Their early-season form has given them the flexibility to push in multiple competitions, and Wednesday will be no exception.