Cucho’s double stuns Philadelphia Union as Columbus Crew takes control in crucial match

The last away game for Philadelphia Union in the MLS regular season was really one about endurance and skill; unfortunately, that result didn't come out in their favor. In this regard, there are a couple of lessons for Union to learn, going into the next phase after the 3-2 loss to Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup champions. It was an intense, high-and-low-filled affair in which Union just couldn't capitalize on key moments.

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From the opening whistle, it was set to be an emotional rollercoaster night for Union, as they saw Columbus Crew immediately take the lead with a light-speed goal. Despite Union being strong enough to equalize, the momentum of the home team was too hard to hold back.

Cucho Hernandez: Villain of the Night

After just four minutes of play, Columbus Crew was in the net. The great season so far for Cucho Hernandez saw him capitalize on a corner to score his 18th goal of the year, placing a header where Andre Blake had no chance of saving it. It was a tough blow for Union, who had barely gotten any time into the game before finding themselves down.

Columbus's onslaught came fast and furious as if it wouldn't be so bad it hadn't been for Andre Blake, who made a crucial save just after the first, it would seem a whole lot worse before the 10th minute. Christian Ramirez nearly doubled the lead, but Blake showed why he is one of the top goalies in the League.

Union Equalizes, But Columbus Takes the Lead Back

Even with the torrid start from Columbus Crew, Union didn't back down. Nate Harriel equalized in the 25th minute thanks to a loose ball in the box. The moment relieved the Union fans as they saw their team fight back to balance the match. A foul on Daniel Gazdag started the action for the powerful shot from Jack Elliott. Columbus' keeper Patrick Schulte was able to make the initial save, but Harriel was onto the rebound in a flash and didn't miss.

But the joy for Union lasted only for a few minutes. While in the first half, Mo Farsi brought back Columbus' lead. He showed much patience and was so precise to work the ball until he found space to take a shot. After the first save from Blake, Farsi managed to follow up on the rebound and tuck it in, putting Columbus back in front.

Cucho Shines Again, and Union Fights Back

The second half, Columbus Crew looked to command the tempo of the match in search of more goals, while Union tried to balance their game. But again, Cucho Hernandez outsmarted them. In the 76th minute, the Colombian forward scored his second goal of the night, once again with his head, this time from a corner kick. This was a cruel blow for Union, now two goals behind and with little time to recover.

Still, Philadelphia Union didn't give up. Just two minutes later, Jack McGlynn-with a quick strike-finished from outside the box after receiving a pass from Kai Wagner, cutting the deficit. The goal in turn brought new energy to Union, who pressed hard in the final minutes but just couldn't find the crucial equalizer.

What Worked and What Went Wrong

Coach Jim Curtin went with an attacking line-up, though it came with some changes compared to the lineup in the prior match. One of those changes, starting Nate Harriel on the bench against Orlando, proved to be a good call as the right-back was one of the stand-out players for Union. In midfield, Danley Jean Jacques brought fresh energy, but in general, Union struggled to contain Columbus' quick and heavy attacks.

While players like McGlynn and Harriel performed well individually, Union faltered as a team in key moments. Defensively, they were good at times, though they were poor on set-pieces. A couple of Columbus' three goals were set up from corner kicks.