Leon Flach scores first career MLS goal; 10 men Union win third consecutive match at Subaru Park
CHESTER, Pa. – The Philadelphia Union kicked off October with a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Crew Sunday afternoon at Subaru Park. With the home victory, the Union moved up to third place in the Eastern Conference. Jack Elliott opened the scoring in the 25th minute. The center back took advantage of a Union free kick outside of the box, driving a low shot below the wall and into the bottom left corner to give the Union the 1-0 advantage. It was Elliott’s second goal of the MLS season. Right after the second half kickoff, captain Alejandro Bedoya extended the Union lead to two. The goal is Bedoya’s 15th career league goal for Philadelphia, commemorating his 145th start for the Union. The Columbus Crew looked to cut the lead in half with a penalty kick in the 76th minute, but Andre Blake made the save, preserving the clean sheet for the 10 man Union. Sunday was Blake’s 10th clean sheet of the season. Leon Flach added the finishing touch to the victory, lacing an 89th minute strike past the Columbus keeper to make it a 3-0 victory. With the win, the Union have now won their last three matches at home, and are undefeated in their last four league contests.
The Union are on the road at TQL Stadium on Saturday where they will play FC Cincinnati (8:00 p.m. ET / PHL17).
Philadelphia Union 3 – Columbus Crew 0
Subaru Park (Chester PA)
Sunday, October 3, 2021
TODAY’S MATCH INFO
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Peter Manikowski, Brian Poeschel
Fourth Official: Elvis Osmanovic
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Ast. VAR: Craig Lowry
Weather: 79 degrees and partly cloudy.
GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Jack Elliott (free-kick) 25’
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (Przybylko) 46’
PHI – Leon Flach (Sullivan) 89’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Kai Wagner (caution) 35’
PHI – Kai Wagner (second caution, ejection) 64’
CLB – Pedro Santos (caution) 66’
PHI – Alvas Powell (caution) 74’
PHI – Sergio Santos (caution) 78’
Lineup
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Alvas Powell (Nathan Harriel 90’); Jamiro Monteiro, Leon Flach, Alejandro Bedoya (Jesus Bueno 90’), Daniel Gazdag (Quinn Sullivan 68’); Kacper Przybylko, Sergio Santos (Stuart Findlay 78’).
Substitutes not used: Joe Bendik; Jack McGlynn, Paxton Aaronson, Anthony Fontana, Matheus Davo.
Columbus Crew: Evan Bush; Aboubacar Keita (Lucas Diaz 53’) , Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams; Milton Valenzuela (Derrick Etienne 53’), Marlon Hairston (Liam Fraser 67’), Darlington Nagbe, Steven Moreira ( Saad Adbul-Salaam 67’); Lucas Zelarayan, Pedro Santos (Miguel Berry 83’), Gyasi Zardes.
Substitutes not used: Eric Dick; Isaiah Parente, Waylon Francis, Bradley Wright-Phillips.
TEAM NOTES
Andre Blake recorded his 10th clean sheet of the season, saving a penalty kick in the process.
Leon Flach earned his 25th start for the Union, tallying his first career MLS goal.
Center back Jack Elliott scored his second goal of the season.
Captain Alejandro Bedoya made his 145th start for Philadelphia Union, which ranks fifth in club history. He scored his 15th career league goal for the Union.
Jamiro Monteiro earned his 65th start for the Union, marking his 70th overall appearance in MLS play.
The Union are on the road at TQL Stadium on Saturday where they will play FC Cincinnati (8:00 p.m. ET / PHL17).
