CHARLOTTE— On wet Saturday night in Charlotte, the Philadelphia Union hoped that after a two week break they would be able to finally pick up points for the first time in 2026 MLS regular season.
And while, yet again, they found themselves down in the match, they were able to battle back and find the equalizer. However, that brief glimpse of hope was short-lived as Wilfried Zaha’s 80th minute goal proved to be the difference as Philadelphia would fall short 2-1 and remain without a point through six matches in league play.
“I think it’s totally understandable in a situation like we’re in for us to be fragile, but I don’t see us giving up,” said Union head coach Bradley Carnell. “I don’t see a team that’s not committed. I don’t see a team that’s not creating and I don’t see a team that’s not trying. So you know, everything we’ve asked of the boys, they’re fighting till the very bitter end. We feel for them, you know. And you only get what you deserve. And right now, it’s just a few percent of the fine margins that’s not going our way, and we don’t get the reward.”
Both teams had moments early on including from Milan IIoski, who made a wonder run in behind the defenders, however Indiana Vassilev was unable to find the final pass before Milan was in an offside position.
The Union defense would find themselves in a tough spot when Frankie Westfield would pick up the match’s first yellow card on a hard foul on Charlotte midfielder Kerwin Vargas.
Heavy rain would start for fall around the 18th minute as storms swirled around the Charlotte area, sending fans attending the match scurrying to the concourse area of Bank of America Stadium. This would also make the field surface very slick as the rain continued through most of the match.
The Union’s trend this season of conceding first would continue in the 30th minute as Ashley Westwood scored, assisted by Idan Toklomati. The initial play was defended by the Union, but Westfield could not completely clear the play and the home side punished the club still searching for a break.
The goal would be the sixth time in this season that Union had conceded to start a match this season, which is obviously not a trend Carnell or his squad wants to see continue in future matches moving forward this season.
The second half, as in other matches this season, the Union showed more poise and attacking being down a goal and putting Charlotte on their heels defending most of the half.
Philadelphia was finally able to break through following a Nathan Harriel yellow card. Danley Jean Jacques fired a shot past Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina to draw the match even 1-1 in the 78th minute for his first goal of the 2026 season. The assist on the goal came from Cavan Sullivan and Nathan Harriel. For Sullivan, it would be his first assist in MLS play in his career.
For a moment it felt like the Union were going to leave Charlotte with a point, at least, and put an end to his streak of no points to start the regular season.
That was until Charlotte, just moments later, would pull ahead for good when none other than Zaha, who picked up a yellow card earlier in the match, received a cross from Pep Biel and was able to slip in behind Philadelphia’s defense and rocket a shot past Andre Blake in the 80th minute, putting the home side up 2-1 and sending Philadelphia to their sixth straight defeat in league play.
“One of the worst things to happen in soccer,” said Bradley Carnell post match. “You had them at their most vulnerable when you’ve just scored. And you know, I think the way we attacked the game in the second half, we knew if we did that in the first half to that intense of a level, that we would not be able to sustain the whole game on this field, in this environment.”
“We had them on the ropes. And yet again, we take nothing away from the game. So again, many learning moments, many positive moments. And yeah, again, we fall short, but you can see over 90 minutes we are there and thereabouts. But we also have to accept, as a group, right now, everything’s an uphill battle, everything’s a struggle.”
As I had mentioned in my match preview article a few days back, Philadelphia now joins the 2012 Toronto FC squad as the only two clubs to not pick up a point through their first six matches.
Union will have to now look to pick up points again as they head up north to face C.F. Montreal next Saturday. Montreal, who just have one win in their six matches this season, lost on Saturday to the New England Revolution 3-0, so both clubs will be looking to break through into the win column next weekend or at the very worst, pick up a point.
“For me, Montreal, we have to get at them. This is a this is a crucial game coming up, in my opinion, ” said Carnell.
The match is scheduled for 2:30PM next Saturday April 11 from Stadium Saputo in Montreal. The match will be available as always on Apple TV.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
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