Philadelphia Union
Union equalize but collapse late, dropping home opener 2-1 to NYCFC
The Philadelphia Union found a late equalizer via an Indiana Vassilev penalty kick in the Union’s home opener on Sunday evening. When a comeback looked to be on the cards, an Olwethu Makhanya second yellow card and a last-gasp Tayvon Gray goal handed the Union their second straight loss to start the 2026 MLS season.
For the second straight match, the Union found themselves in unfamiliar position. The 2025 Union, who were very resolute defensively, did not need to work from behind often, but the Union conceded first once again on Sunday. A first half goal from Hannes Wolf left the Union trailing and chasing NYCFC for the majority of the match.
Bradley Carnell spoke about the Union’s sluggish starts to the media. “It’s about being more brave, being a little bit more proactive, being a bit more on the front foot, whether with the ball or without the ball, and being more deliberate with our actions,” Carnell remarked. “That’s something we have to work at. The guys are not happy, they’re disappointed, and they knew this one got away from us.”
With the retooled Union attack after the departure of Tai Baribo, Carnell was asked if he was concerned with the chemistry in the new Union attacking unit. “If you look at all our chances today in transition, what we’ve created and the moments we’ve had, the shots we took… I don’t want to say chemistry,” replied Carnell. I thought there were some nice good transitional moments, and just that final pass, the final execution [was lacking]. I thought it was way better
than it was in D.C. I thought it was way better. I didn’t see that as the problem today.”
Goal scorer Indiana Vassilev spoke postgame about the Union’s slow start as well. “If we’re a little bit cleaner in the first 20 minutes, and we score a goal, and we’re up 1-0, we go into half 1-0… it’s momentum, and trying to find and keep the momentum is such a big part of this game,”
Vassilev explained. “I think we haven’t done too good of a job at it so far. That obviously comes with scoring first. And we had our chances; we just didn’t do that.”
Unlike the Union’s season opener at DC, the Union found an equalizer in the 89th minute with a goal from Vassilev. Stas Korzeniowski drew the penalty after being pulled down by Thiago Martins of NYCFC.
Korzeniowski talked about the crucial play postgame.
“I just posted up on the center back, and I saw Makhanya was on the ball. We set up a ladder where Indy [Vassilev] was underneath me,” Korzeniowski explained. “It was just one of those dangerous balls that was thread down the middle, and it makes the team really uncomfortable. I was leaning into him, and he dragged me down, and it was enough to secure a penalty kick.”
With Milan Iloski and Bruno Damiani off the field, Vassilev ended up being the player to take the ball for the penalty kick. “We actually have a list on the wall [in the locker room], and I think I was third or fourth . We just took a lot of guys off, and I just happened to be on the field.” Still, Vassilev had plenty of work to do to beat Matt Freese, a renowned penalty kick goalkeeper who made three penalty kick saves in the Gold Cup quarterfinal last year. In the 89th minute, Vassilev dispatched his penalty.
“Freese is a good goalie,” Vassilev said. “I thought he was going to dive, so I went down the middle. Worked out.”
The Union lost their momentum early in stoppage time when the ball ricocheted off Olwethu Makhanya for a NYCFC corner kick. Makhanya believed the ball had touched Talles Magno last, and a goal kick should have been awarded to the Union. When the young South African saw that referee Chris Penso had awarded a corner kick, he gestured at Penso in disgust. Penso responded by showing Makhanya a yellow card for dissent. Makhanya was already on a yellow card and was therefore sent off. The NYCFC winner came minutes later when a Tayvon Gray header beat Andre Blake.
“We had momentum there, made it 1-1, momentum is on our side. Then, the red card takes it back,” Vassilev explained after the match. Carnell discussed the untimely sending off of Makhanya as well, just after Ezekiel Alladoh was sent off last weekend against D.C. due to a verbal exchange that took place after the play.
“If you look at that, two red cards in two weeks. And this is something, you know, when one guy is disconnected or when a red card happens, we have created a mountain for ourselves to climb,” Carnell said. “We know we have a young, hungry squad, and sometimes the moment… gets to us a little bit. We have to learn. We have to grow.”
Union defender Nate Harriel spoke with media after the match as well. “At the end of the game, we were creating chances on chances. But at the end of the day, we have to look at ourselves in the mirror,” Harriel said, critical of the team’s performances so far this season. “Two weeks, two red cards, not even from a tackle, but by our mouth, and dissent to the referee. It’s not good enough from a culture standard… we have to nip it in the bud and get together as a team. Stay positive, it’s a long year, and we’re only two games into the season.”
The Union are in action next on Saturday, March 7 th against Timo Werner and the San Jose Earthquakes at Subaru Park at 7 p.m. The Union will be in search of their first point of the MLS season.
I’m not too worried about the red cards – the refs have tightened up some of the reaction rules this year (which I’m fine with) and our guys just need to get used to it
I’m more worried about getting our guys on the same page, I was hoping we would come out a little hotter considering we had nearly everyone in for preseason
Better now than later, that’s for sure. Hopefully by the time DC United comes into town (April 18) things will have improved.