Union Search for Answers as Slumping Crew Visit Chester

With just two matches before the World Cup break, the Philadelphia Union are looking to write the wrongs of their worst start in club history. After working back from a 2-0 and 3-1 deficits in their midweek tie against Orlando, the Boys in Blue could not finish the job, falling in the final moments 4-3.

Now, a struggling Columbus side rolls into Chester looking to erase its three-match losing streak. 

Columbus Looks to Snap Three-Match Skid

April 25th was the last time that Columbus found a victory in MLS play. You’ll never guess who they played. A 2-0 victory against the U showcased a dominant performance from the Crew at home. However, a jam-packed schedule for the Black and Gold finds them out of form, with three straight league losses.

While their defense has been strong against the struggling Union attack, they have not kept teams off the board as of late. Three straight losses also saw the Crew conceding three goals in each match. Tonight’s match provides a great opportunity for manager Henrik Rydström to get his squad back in form, as his side has shut out the Union in their last two meetings.

Despite their poor defensive form, Columbus scored 10 goals in their last five matches. Although a spicy post-match presser after the midweek defeat to Red Bull had Rydström admitting that the club lacks a true forward. 

The note brings pressure to their current attackers. Without Wessam Abou Ali, who suffered a torn ACL in mid-April, the club searches for answers it has not found.

Diego Rossi, who has five goals on the season, is a great name to bring into that conversation, but he is not a true striker. Rydström rotated an assortment of forward and midfielder hybrids into the forward positions to create offense, but no player has become the obvious candidate.

An additional candidate for the role is midfielder Daniel Gazdag. A familiar face for the Union faithful, Gazdag has yet to find his footing in his two and a half seasons with the Crew, but he was included in the rotated squad that fell to New York on Wednesday.

One thing to watch this evening will be the attacking prowess of the defensive-minded players in this squad. American international Max Arfsten has four goals of his own this season, and Columbus loves to attack with numbers.

​Keys to Success

Columbus controlled the play and made the match lethargic in the last meeting between these two sides. If the Crew can get on the board early and control the pace of play, they should have no issues finding their first win in four matches.

Defensively, if there were any time to find their rhythm again, it would be against a side that scores less than nearly every team in the league.

Signs of Life for Philadelphia Attack

What a struggle it has been for the Philadelphia Union this season. When the defense is sound, the attack does not find anything close to a goal. When the attack finally got going on Wednesday, the defensive side of the ball looked recreational. The product? Six points across 13 matches and the worst start to a season in club history.

The Union found three goals in their loss to Orlando City. Three different goal scorers found the back of the net, with Iloski finding his second contribution in two matches, Cavan Sullivan scoring his first MLS goal, and Ben Bender netting his first score since May 29, 2024.

Cavan Sullivan gets better with every minute played for Philly, and I would expect him to be part of the attacking game plan this evening. Similar to his brother, he provides the high-energy spark that this club needs on offense to be crucial in the final third.

Iloski continues to work back into form. A ghost of his former self in the opening months of the 2026 season, he has now forced an own goal against the New England Revolution and scored two of his own in the last five matches.

However, a shock to everyone this season has been the U’s form at home. The Union is winless in MLS play at Subaru Park. In those matches, they have only scored two goals.

It could be poor form, or maybe an attempt to save money on the electric bill with the new stadium light system, but poor home performances are unacceptable for a squad that has flourished on the bank of the Delaware.

​Keys to Success

Defensive consistency needs to be at the forefront of the Union’s quick turnaround this evening. Goals are starting to flow, and the side is facing another team that is struggling defensively. The endless odd-man rushes and careless turnovers are a nail in the coffin for a team that struggles in the central spaces.

Controlling the middle of the park, capitalizing on chances, and avoiding turnovers in dangerous spaces could see the Union through to their first win since April 11th.

You can catch the match on Apple TV+ at 7:30 PM.

Brady Ferguson

Storyteller trying to strengthen the Philadelphia soccer community.

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