Philadelphia Union Wastes Chances, Crew Steals the Spotlight with a Lone Goal

Philadelphia Union had everything going for them to walk away with three points last Wednesday, but once again, they fumbled when it came to putting the ball in the net. If you were one of those fans rooting for the team to make home advantage count at Subaru Park against Columbus Crew, you probably left with a bitter taste in your mouth. You know that feeling when victory is right there, within reach, and then—poof!—it’s gone? That’s pretty much how the night played out.

Right from the start, the Union seemed ready to call the shots. Jim Curtin decided to shuffle his pieces and threw the rookie Danley Jean Jacques into the midfield. Smart move? The team hit the field with energy, creating chances, pressing hard, trying to get that early lead. The problem? It’s the same old story—lots of chances, no finish.

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Thirteen minutes in, the ball almost kissed the back of the net. Quinn Sullivan delivered a perfect pass to Tai Baribo, who found himself one-on-one with Crew’s keeper, Patrick Schulte. It was a beautiful play, quick and sharp, but it lacked that surgical precision. The ball smacked off the post and nearly, oh so nearly, went in. It was like watching one of those movies where the hero is about to save the day but trips at the last second.

And it didn’t stop there. The Union kept knocking on the door, but it felt like there was an invisible force field keeping the ball out. Mbaizo, who stepped in for the injured Harriel, almost played the hero later when he crossed it to Sullivan, who unleashed a rocket…right into the post!

The second half? More of the same. Union kept pushing, but the ball just wasn’t in the mood to cooperate. Mbaizo, again, delivered a picture-perfect cross to Baribo, who shot up like a bolt of lightning for a header. But Schulte was there, solid as a brick wall.

You know what they say—if you don’t score, you’re gonna get scored on. And that’s exactly what happened. In the 75th minute, Columbus Crew, who had rested most of their starters earlier, decided to flex their muscles. Yaw Yeboah, just back on the field, rose above the Union defense and nailed a header so precise it defied the laws of physics. The ball slid through a gap that shouldn’t have existed between goalie Andre Blake and the post, and then it was all over but the shouting. A goal nobody saw coming, but it almost felt inevitable after all the Union’s wasted chances.

It’s easy to blame bad luck, the two shots off the post, but is that really all there is to it? Philadelphia Union had flashes of brilliance, no doubt, but they looked like a team that doesn’t know how to close out a game when they’ve got the chance. And that inability to turn opportunities into goals? That’s what can make or break a season. Maybe the attack lacks confidence? Or maybe they need a little more daring? Because honestly, it seemed like the Union had a plan, but just didn’t have the guts to see it through.

Look, there’s no point whining about the post, bad luck, or the ref. It’s about results, and the 1-0 scoreline in favor of Columbus Crew shows that despite all the effort, the Union didn’t do enough. This home defeat, in a game that was theirs for the taking, could end up costing them big down the road. After all, dropping points at home is never a good sign, especially when direct rivals are watching every slip-up like hawks.

So, what’s Jim Curtin gonna do to change the course of this story? With a match against New York Red Bulls coming up, the Union needs to find the back of the net, more than ever. It’s all about performance, taking those chances when they come, and having ice in their veins when it’s time to finish.