The Philadelphia Union will look for a desperately needed win Saturday night when they host a Columbus Crew side that is also suddenly struggling again heading into the World Cup break.
The Union (1-9-3, 6 points) remain mired in one of the worst reversals in form for a reigning Supporters’ Shield winner in MLS history. They still haven’t earned a home league victory in 2026 and are now winless in their last six (0-3-3) league matches after consecutive away losses last Saturday and Wednesday.
And this Saturday is likely their best chance to earn three points anywhere before the league takes off from late May to late July for the World Cup, since their final game before the break comes May 24 at Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
If there was a bright spot in Philadelphia’s 4-3 loss at Orlando on Wednesday, it was Cavan Sullivan, the highly touted 16-year-old who entered in the 44th minute for the injured Jovan Lukic, scored once and helped the Union climb out of a 2-0 hole before conceding a 90th-minute winner.
“Cavan comes on and makes a real chaotic environment against a fatigued back line,” Philly manager Bradley Carnell said. “And we have two chances to score 4-3 in our favor. So you would say that gameplan worked out, getting him on the field when we did. Just unfortunate we couldn’t bring anything home last night.”
The Union host a Crew side that has dropped three straight following their 3-2 loss at the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.
Columbus (3-7-3, 12 points) has arguably enjoyed the better chances in all three matches and averaged 62% of the possession across those contests despite being outscored 9-4.
“I think overall almost every game we have played so far this season, we are more often in our opponents’ penalty box, but still, they can hurt us,” manager Henryk Rydstrom said. “We will soon probably win two games in a row without deserving it, and then I will be happy and irritated at the same time.”
Diego Rossi scored his team lead-tying fifth goal in Wednesday’s loss and United States World Cup hopeful Max Arfsten added his fourth.
–Field Level Media
