Match Recap: Union Fall to Nashville 3-1, Ending Three-Game Winning Streak

Union Suffer First Loss of the Season in Hard-Fought Battle Against Nashville as Jovan Lukić Scores in Second Consecutive Game.

(Credit: Philadelphia Union)

Chester — After three straight wins to start the season, the Union fell to Nashville by a score of 3-1. Sam Surridge, Ahmed Qasem, and Hany Mukhtar all scored for the visitors, while Jovan Lukić netted the lone goal for the Union.

The Philadelphia Union's starting XI remained unchanged for the fourth consecutive week. Andre Blake started in goal, with a backline of Frankie Westfield, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, and Kai Wagner. Jovan Lukić and Danley Jean Jacques started as the two sixes, while Dániel Gazdag and Quinn Sullivan played as the two tens. Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo led the front line as the two strikers.

(Credit: Philadelphia Union)

Sam Surridge opened the scoring in the 15th minute after Jakob Glesnes stepped up to pressure Hany Mukhtar in midfield. With Glesnes out of position, Surridge found himself in on goal. After pulling the ball back onto his right foot, he sent Frankie Westfield sliding before slotting his shot past Andre Blake to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.

Nashville nearly doubled their advantage in the 18th minute following a throw-in inside the Union’s defensive half. After a series of missed clearances from Danley Jean Jacques and Jovan Lukić, coupled with a poor backward touch from Olwethu Makhanya, Surridge had another chance. However, Makhanya recovered well to make a crucial tackle and clear the danger.

Once again, Nashville threatened in the 25th minute, as Alex Muyl cleared a Union attack and sent Surridge through on goal. One-on-one with Makhanya, the South African defender did well to avoid committing a foul. Surridge held possession and unleashed a right-footed strike from inside the 18-yard box, which rattled off the left post.

The Union found an equalizer in the 33rd minute following a Kai Wagner corner kick that was poorly cleared by Nashville. Jovan Lukić reacted first, hitting a first-time volley from the top of the 18-yard box to level the game at 1-1. It marked the Union’s second set-piece goal of the season.

Just before halftime, Nashville reclaimed the lead through Ahmed Qasem after more defensive struggles from Glesnes, who was pulled out of position. Qasem’s goal—his second in as many games—put Nashville ahead 2-1.

At the break, Nashville had the better chances, outshooting the Union 9-6 and displaying more physicality, committing nine fouls to the Union’s two.

The Union came out strong after halftime, with Dániel Gazdag forcing a close-range save from Joe Willis in the 58th minute. Quinn Sullivan whipped in a cross to Mikael Uhre, who flicked a header to an unmarked Gazdag at the back post, but Willis reacted well to deny him.

The Union thought they had won a penalty in the 61st minute when Quinn Sullivan was fouled by Daniel Lovitz. After a VAR review, referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere determined there was no foul and waved off the penalty.

Head coach Bradley Carnell made a double substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Bruno Damiani for Mikael Uhre—marking Damiani’s third Union appearance—and Nathan Harriel for Frankie Westfield, making his season debut after recovering from a preseason thigh injury.

The Union struggled to generate meaningful chances following the substitutions, prompting Carnell to make another change in the 75th minute, bringing on Indiana Vassilev for Danley Jean Jacques.

In the 78th minute, Nashville was awarded a penalty after Jakob Glesnes collided with Hany Mukhtar in an aerial duel. Mukhtar won the header, and after a lengthy VAR review, the referee determined there was enough contact to award the spot kick. Mukhtar calmly converted, extending Nashville’s lead to 3-1.

Carnell made his final substitutions in the 85th minute, bringing on Chris Donovan for Tai Baribo and Alejandro Bedoya for Dániel Gazdag.

Following multiple VAR checks, the referee added 11 minutes of stoppage time. In the 99th minute, the Union were awarded a penalty after Chris Donovan was fouled inside the box. Quinn Sullivan stepped up to take the shot, but Joe Willis saved his attempt, as well as Bruno Damiani’s follow-up effort.

Tensions boiled over in the 102nd minute when Olwethu Makhanya was shown a straight red card after a confrontation with Jacob Shaffelburg. Makhanya, unhappy with a foul call, threw the ball at Shaffelburg’s face, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him off.

Despite the loss, the Union remain atop the Eastern Conference with a 3-1-0 record. They are now 1-1-0 in their two home games at Subaru Park this season.

Key Moments

For the second time this season, the Union conceded first, with Sam Surridge striking in the 15th minute for Nashville. Walker Zimmerman played a ball up top to Hany Mukhtar, with Jakob Glesnes leaving his mark (Sam Surridge) to win the ball off Mukhtar. Surridge dribbled toward the Union’s 18-yard box and eventually cut onto his left foot, sending Frankie Westfield sliding. Sensing danger, Andre Blake came off his line in an attempt to make a save but was unable to keep the ball out of the net.

Nashville had a chance to extend their lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute after clearing away a Frankie Westfield cross. Sam Surridge was played in by Alex Muyl and was off to the races, defended by Olwethu Makhanya, who did well not to foul the forward. Surridge unleashed a right-footed strike that hit the right goal post, with Andre Blake saving Surridge’s second attempt.

The Union equalized in the 33rd minute, as Jovan Lukić scored his second goal in two games. Kai Wagner sent an in-swinging corner kick into the box toward the back post. The Nashville goalkeeper came out to collect the ball in the air but was beaten to it by his own defender, who cleared it poorly. Lukić capitalized, hitting a first-time volley to tie the game at 1-1.

Nashville regained the lead in the 43rd minute with a goal from Ahmed Qasem, who also scored his second goal in two games. Daniel Lovitz played a floating ball up to Qasem, with Jakob Glesnes marking him. Glesnes was pulled out of position, allowing Qasem to bury a left-footed strike past Andre Blake at the far post.

Nashville went into halftime up 2-1, marking the first time this season that the Union trailed at the break. The Union were completely outplayed in the first half, as Nashville outshot them 9 (3) - 6 (2) and out-fouled them 9-2. The Union looked most dangerous on corner kicks, capitalizing on one of their four attempts.

The Union had the first shot of the second half, with Dániel Gazdag forcing a save from Joe Willis in the 58th minute. After the Union played out from the back with Jakob Glesnes leading the charge, the ball eventually found its way to Quinn Sullivan, who sent in a cross to Mikael Uhre at the near post. Uhre flicked the ball with a header to Gazdag, who was unmarked at the back post, but his effort was saved by Willis, keeping Nashville’s 2-1 lead intact.

A few minutes later, in the 61st minute, the Union thought they had won a penalty after Quinn Sullivan was fouled by Daniel Lovitz. Kai Wagner sent a long ball up top for Sullivan to chase, with Lovitz sliding in with a challenge. The play went to VAR, but referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere determined no penalty.

Nashville extended their lead in the 82nd minute, with Hany Mukhtar converting from the penalty spot to make it 3-1. Mukhtar and Jakob Glesnes went up for a 50/50 ball inside the penalty area, with Mukhtar winning the header. Referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere determined that Glesnes had fouled Mukhtar during the aerial challenge.

In the 99th minute, the Union were awarded a penalty after Chris Donovan was fouled inside the 18-yard box. Quinn Sullivan stepped up to take the spot kick, but his effort was saved by Joe Willis, as was Bruno Damiani’s follow-up shot.

What’s Next?

The Union return to action on Saturday, March 22nd, at 7:30 PM, as they host St. Louis CITY in their first-ever meeting. This matchup carries extra significance, as head coach Bradley Carnell will face his former club, which he managed in 2023 and part of 2024. Additionally, Indiana Vassilev, recently traded from St. Louis, will go up against his former teammates for the first time.