Game Thread: Philadelphia Union 0 Columbus Crew 1 Final

90’ + 4’ That’ll do it. The Union can’t pull back in the second half, and Columbus leaves on top of the scoreboard and the Eastern Conference

90’ + 3’ Union earn a corner in the final seconds of the match

90’ + 2’ Real called for handling, Columbus still just killing time

90’ + 1’ Columbus looks like they alomst get a good shot off, but the play is called back for offsides

89’ Columbus uses another subsitition, with Fatai Alashe coming on for Lucas Zelarayan

88’ Anthony Fontana appears for Jose Martinez as the Union uses their last substition

87’ Real tries another cross, but there’s no one there to receive it. Goal kick for Columbus.

85’ Martinez takes a shot from well outside the penalty area, saved by Room

83’ Elliott commits a foul about 10 yards outside the penalty area. The kick bounces towards Andre Blake, who saves in inside the net

82’ Jack Elliott concedes a corner off a Columbus free kick. Columbus is in no hurry to take either set piece

79’ Matt Real tries a cross/shot while sails over the net for a Columbus goal kick. Columbus uses the stoppage to sub Gyasi Zardes out for Fanendo Adi.

78’ Monteiro tries a shot from outside the box, though it poses little challenge for Room

75’ Union’s next subs come on as Sergio Santos leaves for Victor Wooten and Matt Real comes on for Olivier Mbaizo. The Union has 15 minutes left to tie this up, but Columbus is giving them fewer and fewer chances as the Union connect on fewer passes.

72’ McKenzie and Zardes go down after a collision. Zardes appears fine, McKenzie limps away from the impact

70’ Columbus’ first substitition comes on as Derrick Etienne relieves Youness Mokhtar

69’ Zardes almost able to push his way through the defense to score, but he’s held back, leaving for a Union clearance at the 6 yard line.

68’ Sergio Santos sends one flying over the crossbar. Przybylko seems frustrated that he never received a pass from Santos.

66’ Pedro Santos sends one into the Columbus’ parking lot, giving Blake another free goal kick.

64’ Monteiro goes down in the box trying to cross, but no foul given to Philadelphia

62’ A few subs for the Union. Ilsinho on for Aaronson and Warren Creavalle on for Captain Alejandro Bedoya.

60’ Aaronson tries to give it to Przybylko in the box, but the short pass is intercepted, stopping what was most likely the tying goal

58’ Martinez stops another possible goal, but goals down in the penalty area, gets back up after a few minutes.

55’ Goal for Columbus, as Lucas Zelarayan profits off a deflection off McKenzie. 1-0 for Columbus.

53’ Bedoya sees yellow for a tackle on Milton Valenzuela, his first of the match and the Union’s second

52’ Jonathan Mensah receives a yellow card for a previous handball, Columbus’ first card of the match

52’ Pedro Santos takes what looks to be a promising shot, but it goes just wide of the net

49’ Zardes shot deflects off McKenzie and goes out for another corner, which then goes out for another corner, which then goes out for a Union goal kick

48’ McKenzie chases down Gyasi Zardes, gives Columbus the corner as the ball rolls out

46’ Annnnnnd we’re back with more Union soccer as the second half kicks off

Halftime Stats

Philadelphia Union

Shots - 10

Shots on Goal - 2

Shots Blocked - 5

Possession - 39.1%

Fouls - 6

Yellow Cards - 1

Missed Chances - 1

Columbus Crew

Shots - 7

Shots on Goal - 3

Shots Blocked - 2

Possession - 60.9%

Fouls - 3

Yellow Cards - 0

Missed Chances - 0

45’ + 2’ Ball bounces around Columbus’ box a bit, but goes out for a corner kick, which proves to be the last play of the half. To summarize the first 45 minutes: exciting.

45’ + 1’ Kacper Przybylko goes down, drawing a foul. Takes a little while to get back up, but seems fine

45’ Jose Martinez gives Columbus a dangerous free kick from just outside the 18, which is cleared by Przybylko

42’ Montiero’s tackle on Santos earns him a yellow card, putting him one more away from a suspension

41’ Columbus’ Pedro Santos sends one way over the crossbar, giving Andre Blake a free goal kick

39’ A tough shot comes in from deep from Columbus, stopped by Blake and cleared by Jack Elliott

37’ After some hefty (but clean) defense by Jose Martinez, the Crew tries for a cross, which is deflected for a corner, which is taken care of by Philadelphia

34’ Nagbe goes down at the goal area, but gets back up after about a minute on the ground

33’ The ball bounces around the box plenty of times before it rolls out for a corner. The corner attempt does the same, but rolls out for a goal kick

31’ Alejandro Bedoya tries driving into the box off of a pass from Santos, but is shielded away and gives up the ball

28’ Columbus takes a slow, rolling shot from deep. Easily saved by Blake

27’ Nagbe makes a goal line save for the Crew, and one throw in later Columbus has a goal kick

26’ Aaronson stumbles his way in front of the goal, but his shot is deflected by Room. Union corner

21’ Aaronson tries crossing into the box twice: first time cleared by Columbus, second time the ball goes out for a goal kick

20’ Jamiro Monteiro drops Darlington Nagbe late, but avoids a card from the referee

19’ Blake is back up, and play resumes

18’ Andre Blake down on the field after hitting his back against the post on that previous play. Trainers called on the field and are massaging his lower back.

17’ Columbus shot blocked by Aaronson, gives the Crew a corner which ends up in the hands of Andre Blake

12’ Bedoya takes a shot from outside the penalty box, but it’s saved by Room. Ball bounces around until it’s cleared by Columbus.

10’ Both teams attacking where they can, but trying to find each other’s weaknesses in this chess match of the best in the East

8’ Gaddis’ cross attempt ends up at Aaronson’s feet, who chips it into the hands of Columbus keeper Eloy Room

5’ Columbus tries pushing into the box, put Mark McKenzie gets it out and Jose Martinez clears it with a bicycle kick. Columbus tries again and gives the Union a goal kick

3’ Sergio Santos drives into the box and fights for the corner, but the referee gives Columbus the goal kick

1’ Kacper Przybylko starts us off with the first kick, and we’re off

Starting Lineups

With Kai Wagner out, Olivier Mbaizo comes in to play outside back. McKenzie and Elliott back pairing at the back.

Availability/Discipline

Philadelphia Union
Injuries: OUT: Aurelien Collin (D) - leg injury, OUT: Kai Wagner (D) - lower leg injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Jose Martinez (M)
International duty: None

Columbus Crew
Injuries: OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Series Matchup at Crew SC

Crew SC: 9 wins, 23 goals
Union: 2 wins, 12 goals
2 draws

Officials

Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, C.J. Morgante
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

How to Watch

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 2
TV: PHL 17
Streaming: PhiladelphiaUnion.com in market; ESPN+ out-of-market
Radio: Fox Sports The Gambler 1480 AM and 105.3 HD2
Audio Streaming: IHeart Radio App, Fox Sports The Gambler

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