Stoppage time dread sinks the Philadelphia Union in Columbus

An own goal, an injury to their most in-form player and a red card to a starting center back all happened in stoppage time for the Philadelphia Union in a 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew on the road on Saturday night.

Max Arfsten also happened to the Union early in the match when he opened the scoring for the hosts in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a bad touch from Philippe Ndinga and converting past Andre Blake in the first of three 1v1 chances he had on the night. Blake stonewalled the U.S. international moments later to deny a 2-0 early hole and was there with a good sliding save on a chance in the second half but Arfsten’s opener held up through more drama and misfortune for the Union en route to their first loss in three weeks.

Playing in front of a near sellout at (insert long sponsor stadium name here), the Crew came out strong and after finding the goal continued to maintain most of the possession but the Union were able to slowly find their way in the game and threaten the only way they seem to know how in 2026, through scrappy play winning second balls, drawing fouls and flicking set pieces on to a teammate. While they found an exit ramp off the highway to blowout city, not even the overly optimistic MLS announcers on Apple TV could gloss over a performance that lacked the cutting edge needed to reverse the tide.

Milan Iloski did have a chance that hit off the far post on a ball looking for Sullivan at the back post, Ndinga rocketed a shot off Sullivan’s back and Danley Jean Jacques had a headed attempt go over the bar but the Union didn’t look all that different than they did in their six losses to open the season, all games where they conceded the first goal.

The Crew continued to look the better side with the ball heading into first half stoppage time when Arfsten was played forward again into the box and was able to get a cross in through contact from Ndinga that ended up in the back of the net after Nathan Harriel slid in to try to clear it and the ball ricocheted off of Blake and in. Adding injury to the insult of a 2-0 deficit at halftime was Jesus Bueno limping off after twisting his ankle in the build-up to the goal. Bueno had been such a key spark in the team’s three-game unbeaten streak so his departure was another blow.

The second half was better for the Union but largely uneventful in the early going before Iloski was able to register the first shot on goal of the night for the boys in blue in the 64th minute, a slow roller right at Patrick Schulte. Ben Bender replaced Ndinga at left back at halftime and was able to register a shot on goal of his own that Schulte tipped over the bar in the first minute of stoppage time after Harriel had a header on target but saved by Schulte in the 82nd minute.

Columbus looked to put the game away in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Andres Herrera played a long ball to Jamal Thiaré in the middle of the park that ended in a tussle between Thiaré and Japhet Sery Larsen, who was sent off for his role in the play despite both players making contact jockeying for position. Barring a successful appeal it means Larsen will miss the game next Saturday at home against conference leaders Nashville SC.

The red card also effectively ended any hope of a late comeback for the Union, who find themselves 17 points behind Nashville in last place in the Eastern Conference and 29th place and 22 points behind San Jose in the Supporters’ Shield standings.