Depleted Union back to winning ways

Bradley Carnell defeated his former side, as the Philadelphia Union beat St Louis City 1-0 at Subaru Park in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

Ian Glavinovich, who was making his first start, scored the only goal of the game in the eighth minute.

The Union were missing six starters from their previous fixture, a 3-1 defeat at home to Nashville. Andre Blake, Frankie Westfield, Daniel Gazdag, Danley Jean Jacques and Tai Baribo were all away on international duty. Olwethu Makanya missed the game due to suspension.

Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Glavinovich, Nate Harriel, Indiana Vassilev and Bruno Darmiani came into the starting XI. St Louis City travelled to Philadelphia with an unbeaten record of two wins and two draws and had yet to concede a goal in MLS play for the 2025 season.

Despite being down six starters, the depleted Union took early control of the game and came close to taking the lead when Darmiani's header from Harriel's long throw was pushed wide of the post by Ben Lundt.

The hosts were not to be denied from the resulting corner, as Glavinovich found the back of the net. Wagner curled a corner towards the edge of the six-yard box for the on-loan Argentinian defender to head the ball down and into the bottom left corner of the net. The visitors' record without conceding a goal was finally over.

Philadelphia continued to be in the ascendency, as the visiting St Louis barely laid a glove on them during the opening half. Quinn Sullivan nearly doubled their advantage when his free-kick to the left of the centre from over 20 yards smacked the crossbar before going out of play for a goal kick.

The lead was somehow not doubled as the Union continued to put pressure on the visitors' goal, keeping Lundt busy. In the 36th minute, Sullivan smartly backheeled to Darmiani, who sent a left-footed low drive towards the far corner, which Lundt saved. The rebound fell to Harriel, who saw his attempt saved by Lundt's foot before he then cleared the crossbar. Moments later, Mikael Uhre came close. Wagner got away down the left before playing a low cross towards the near post, which Uhre sent over the crossbar with the St Louis goalkeeper coming off his line to cause a distraction.

Lundt continued to thwart Darmiani as he made another big save. Uhre got played down the left-hand side before making his way into the penalty area and cutting the ball back. The young Uruguayan forward was on the end of it, managing to hook the ball goalward. However, Lundt was on hand, yet again, to push it around the post.

Sullivan was the next man to be denied by the inspired Lundt, as his low driven effort from the left corner of the penalty area was palmed clear by the visiting goalkeeper, as the hosts somehow went into half-time with only a one-goal advantage.

After an uneventful start to the second half, St Louis City were reduced to ten men on 66 minutes as Eduard Löwen was shown a red card for a second bookable offence after a foul on Uhre.

Playing against the ten men of St Louis, Carnell's side comfortably saw out the remaining 25 minutes of the game. The most trouble the visitors caused them were some hopeful crosses into the penalty area and a speculative first-time strike by Jannes Horn, who curled well over the crossbar.

The victory saw the Philadelphia Union return to the top of the Eastern Conference with 12 points from five games.