Union concede late equalizer, drop points to Toronto at home

For the third time at home this season, the Philadelphia Union had to settle for a point after conceding a goal in second half stoppage time.

The home crowd had plenty to cheer about early as Indiana Vassilev finished off an early goal off a really sharp combination of passes starting from Kai Wagner on the left flank to Quinn Sullivan to Danley Jean Jacques to Tai Baribo to a streaking Vassilev down the middle of the park. Vassilev took three touches on the run and then finished with his right foot past reserve keeper Luka Gavran.

The goal was Vassilev’s third of the season and his third inside the first 10 minutes of the game.

Despite the early advantage and playing at home against a team below the playoff line, Toronto FC looked dangerous on the counter attack and were able to limit the Union’s chances when they did possess the ball. Theo Corbeanu looked particularly dangerous on the counter out wide and nearly snuck one past Andre Blake at the near post in the 39th minute.

Jakob Glesnes had a look in the 18th minute when a Kai Wagner free kick was cleared to him in the box but his shot went over the bar. Glesnes would go into the book 10 minutes later and will miss the next league game with a suspension after making contact with countrymen Ola Brynhildsen on a counter. Minutes before the play, Brynhildsen was pushing into the Union box on a counter but good positioning from Olwethu Makhanya forced him to shoot his shot wide of the goal.

Just after halftime Quinn Sullivan was able to find Danley near the top of the box for an attempt that missed wide left. Sullivan would connect with Danley again later in the match on a similar play that Gavran was able to deny in the 86th minute. But it was Tai Baribo’s goal that was later waived off after video review that would become the biggest talking point of the second half. The free kick was initially played by a Toronto player backward toward the goal and Gavran made a mess of things when he tried to tap Damiani’s attempt up over the bar but ended up hitting to Baribo instead. It was far from pretty but also far from being a clear and obvious mistake on the initial goal ruling on the field.

The pivotal moment was one of several where referee Tori Penso’s decisions would be questioned on the night – going both ways. Another review would come after a very late shot from Makhanya in the box at Gavra after the whistle had blown. Makhanya went in the book for the play and Deandre Kerr was also shown yellow for his reaction that started the skirmish between the two sides.

Minutes later Blake came up with one of the defensive plays of the night when he denied Kevin Long at the doorstep off a corner kick and Nathan Harriel came up big to deny the rebound attempt from substitute Malik Henry, who would later factor into the equalizer when he played a ball from the right flank perfectly to the head of Kerr for the equalizer in the 1st minute of stoppage time.

It was a disappointing concession to be sure but also somewhat of a relief that the visitors weren’t able to ride the momentum to grabbing a smash and grab winner within the 10 minutes of stoppage time. Despite bringing in fresh legs to the attack with newcomer Milan Iloski making his Union debut and Cavan Sullivan coming on, the Union failed to register another shot in the final 10 minutes.

The Union have now dropped points in four games this season where they’ve conceded in second stoppage time, which include the Columbus Crew and Inter Miami draws at home and the loss at Nashville SC. They’ve conceded four goals in first half stoppage time and won 2, drawn 1 and lost one of those games. On the plus side, they’ve also scored 7 times in stoppage time, including three game winners.

The Union will regroup from the disappointing and controversial draw and prep for the New York Red Bulls coming to town for the U.S. Open Cup qualifier on Wednesday night at Subaru Park before returning them a visit in North Jersey next Saturday night for a league game.