MLS
Daniel Gazdag nets first Columbus Crew goal as four former Union players score on MLS Matchday 26
Union fans saw the success of the team’s former players up close and personal this weekend, with Jack McGlynn notching a goal from the penalty spot against the club he once played for as a homegrown. McGlynn wasn’t the only former Union player to find the back of the net on Saturday, with three others getting on the scoresheet, including two scoring their first goals for their new teams.
Supporters who were sitting at home biting their nails during multiple VAR checks or those who braved the Houston heat are familiar with one former Union player scoring this weekend, partially because it was against the Union and partially because it was the talk of social media after the final whistle.
McGlynn’s successfully converted penalty kick in the 10th minute of first half stoppage time was enough to earn the Houston Dynamo a point against the then-first place Union. Following a long VAR check for a potential Dynamo penalty kick on the stroke of halftime, a significant chunk of time was added by referee Rosendo Mendoza. While the Dynamo didn’t earn a penalty on the aforementioned review, Mendoza would point to the spot in their favor just a few minutes later.
After a foul at the edge of the penalty area by the Union’s Jovan Lukic, McGlynn and his deadly left foot stood over the free kick. Having seen what he can do on set pieces, Union fans were collectively holding their breath. McGlynn’s free kick struck the outstretched right arm of Jesus Bueno, who was standing as the last man on the right side of the wall in front of goalkeeper Andrew Rick. Mendoza, who will be the head official for Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game in Austin, would immediately point to the spot. McGlynn made no mistake with his penalty, sending his former teammate, Rick, the wrong way, leveling the game at one.
McGynn, whose celebration and badge kiss following the goal made rounds on social media during and after the game, offered a respectable answer in his postgame media availability that included some banter with his old teammates.
“I know everyone is talking about the celebration,” said Jack McGlynn after the match. “I just want to clear that up, it was a little joke I had with my [former] teammates before they scored and did my celebration, so I couldn’t let that slide so I celebrated.
“Obviously I have a lot of love for everything Philly [Union] did for me. It’s the club that raised me and gave me a chance to become a pro. I love that club; I love all the people there. Kissing the badge is nothing against them, trust me, I love everything there and I love all the fans too.”
While McGlynn made headlines against his former club, three other former Union players would score goals on Saturday night.
After 16 matches with the Columbus Crew, the Union’s all-time leading goal scorer, Daniel Gazdag (72 goals), finally got off the mark with his new team. A Union fan favorite, Gazdag was traded to the Crew in a cash-for-player deal in early April. The move allowed Gazdag to seek a new contract with a team willing to pay his desired salary, and it gave the Union $4 million guaranteed, with the potential for more through performance-based incentives.
Just like his first few months with the Union, Gazdag started slow with the Crew, tallying just one assist in his first 15 matches with the club. That changed Saturday night when Gazdag scored his first Crew goal in a 2-1 win over DC United. In typical Gazdag fashion, he won a penalty and converted the spot kick in the 31st minute. Diego Rossi, the Crew’s normal penalty kick taker, gave the ball to his new teammate. Gazdag scored 35 penalties in all competitions during his five years with the Union. Gazdag was Columbus’ Man of the Match and named to MLS’s Matchday 26 Team of the Matchday bench.
“Soccer is like that. There are always times when you struggle with goals, but obviously it was bad that it happened when I joined the new team, so I wanted to score as soon as possible,” said Daniel Gazdag after the match. “But I’m happy that it happened today, and obviously, thanks for Diego [Rossi], he was a great teammate today.”
Another Union great, who scored some memorable goals for the club, notched his first goal with his new club this weekend. Jack Elliott, who donned blue and gold for eight years, scored the second goal in a 2-0 Chicago Fire win at CF Montreal.
Like Gazdag, Elliott was looking for a raise from the Union last offseason, but with his contract up and the Union reportedly not willing to meet his demands, Elliott signed with the Fire. Entering Saturday, Elliott hadn’t scored since his second goal of the 2022 MLS Cup Final, a 108-game drought followed. While it is common for defenders to go through goaless streaks, or even play a whole career without scoring, Elliott had four years with multiple-goal seasons for the Union, and was always an imposing figure on set pieces.
It was a set piece during the second half of Saturday’s win where Elliott would finally break his goal drought. Elliott flicked home a Philip Zinckernagel corner kick at the near post. Elliott’s scream after the goal was indicative of him breaking a long goal drought, and the way his teammates celebrated with him showed that they knew what the goal meant to the center back. Elliott was Man of the Match for the Fire and was named to MLS’s Matchday 26 Team of the Matchday starting lineup.
The fourth and final former Union player to score on Saturday was NYCFC midfielder Andres Perea. Acquired in an offseason move with Orlando City in December 2022, Perea was one of a few signings the Union made to add much-needed MLS quality depth following their run to MLS Cup. It didn’t quite work out for Perea in Chester, as he played eight games (one start) and scored just once. Perea was loaned to NYCFC for the second half of the 2023 season before the move was made permanent in early 2024.
Perea has had success with NYCFC, playing 52 MLS regular-season games while starting one playoff game in 2024. Perea had three goals and two assists last season and tallied his first goal of the 2025 campaign on Saturday. Playing in a more attacking role for NYCFC, the versatile midfielder latched onto a through ball down the middle and fired a low strike to the far post that beat the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty box. Perea was NYCFC’s Man of the Match in a 1-1 road draw with Sporting Kansas City.
