Game Thread: Philadelphia Union drop a 1-0 result in Columbus

Full Time

Crew 1 - 0 Philadelphia

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OMG A SHOT ON GOAL

The Union finally get a good attempt on goal right on the 90th minute, but Sapong’s shot was held by Steffen as it lacked the pace to really work the keeper

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Sapong Injured

CJ Sapong took a hard hit from the Crew’s Aboubakar & he doesn’t look very good to continue, but he comes back onto the pitch after coming off.

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Yellow Card

Elliot gets a yellow card in the 77th minute for a foul on Zardes

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Union Sub

Ray Gaddis comes on for Fabinho who appears to be hurt.

Fafa Picault had come on for David Accam earlier in the match.

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Crew chance

After Fabinho had a brutal turnover in the middle of the pitch, the Crew had a three on two, but they were unable to get a shot on net after the pass to Higuain was too heavy and the opportunity came to naught.

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Changes for both Union and Crew

Frederico Higuain came on for Hansen for Columbus and Marcus Epps came in for Ilsinho for the Union at the hour mark.

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Columbus Goal

Union defense breaks down and Zardes poaches a goal from within the six-yard box. A total breakdown defensively after Blake had put the ball out of the box, but the Union defense are asleep & the ball is turned into the back of the net.

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Crew goes close

Valenzuela take a shot on goal for Columbus that goes inches wide. While it’s an accomplishment, I guess, for the Union to have the Crew’s best shots come from fullbacks, it’s still a little annoying that there has been almost no attempt to get forward at all.

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Scoreless at Half-time

The match is scoreless at half-time.

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OFF THE POST

Harrison Afful has a well-taken shot that hits the post and bounces to safety. Philadelphia lucky not to concede.

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A little more pressure from Columbus

Columbus won a few corners, but the end product was letting the Crew down. The early pressure from the Union seems to have evaporated and the Union haven’t been able to control the ball at all and only the poor finishing by the Crew have kept the hosts off the score sheet.

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Yellow Card for Columbus

The game has been a starting to get a little chippy, with some fouls being committed by both teams. Columbus finally gets a yellow card after a player tries to take down Blake in the box.

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Union holding off Crew so far

Columbus currently seem to have given up on the midfield battle and are looking to play long balls over the top to try and outrun the backline of the Union, with almost no success.

Union have dealt very well with any Crew attacks that have been made.

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Early Chances

The Union have had a number of good chances early in the match, but the team was unable to convert any of them. Bedoya had perhaps the best chance of all of the Union players, but his touch was a bit heavy and he couldn’t get a shot off.

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Starting Lineups

Fabinho returns from injury, otherwise an unchanged side from the team that lost to Toronto FC

Philadelphia Union

Columbus Crew SC

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How to watch

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

When: 7:30 p.m. ET, May 9, 2018

TV: PHL17

Streaming: ESPN+, MLS Live on DAZN (Canada)