Philadelphia Union's Saturday night showdown against Columbus Crew finished in a 2-2 draw at Subaru Park after a late goal from the visitors in the 93rd minute.
Tai Baribo opened the scoring at Subaru Park just before the end of the first half, finishing a pass from Quinn Sullivan in the 45th minute. Columbus Crew found an equalizer in the 61st, but Frankie Westfield responded quick with a golazo for his first-ever Union goal and a 2-1 lead. Columbus Crew's Zawadzki leveled the match in the final moments, and both teams took a point from the match.
Philadelphia Union will be back at Subaru Park on Wednesday to take on defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy -- to watch the action in the stadium, click here for tickets!
Lineup notes
After several matches with some lineup rotation, Head Coach Bradley Carnell put out a strong starting XI to take on Columbus Crew in a battle for first place in the East. His opening group featured a backline with Jakob Glesnes and Nate Harriel paired at centerback, plus Kai Wagner and Frankie Westfield at outside back, protecting 19-year-old Homegrown keeper Andrew Rick in net.
Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, and Danley Jean Jacques were in the midfield, while Tai Baribo and Bruno Damiani were the chosen pairing up top.
With Andre Blake missing from the matchday roster, Oliver Semmle was the backup keeper on the bench again, sitting alongside Olwethu Makhnaya, Alejandro Bedoya, Jeremy Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan, Chris Donovan, Mikael Uhre, and Nick Pariano, who earned a short-term call-up for the night.
How The Match Unfolded
Not only did the match bring about a battle between the Eastern Conference's top sides, it also marked the return of Daniel Gazdag, the club's all-time leading goal scorer.
When the visitors' starting group was announced in stadium, fans erupted into applause was Gazdag's name was read, and they did the same when the videoboard played a tribute to him and his time with the club moments later.
6', Tai Baribo caught offsides | Quinn Sullivan found Tai Baribo for a tap to the back of the net in the sixth minute, but he was caught offsides.
10', Rick save | In his second first team start this week, Rick stepped up big in the 10th minute, stopping a close range shot from Aziel Jackson.
33' Close chance from Wagner | Just like Rick had against the visitors, Columbus Crew keeper Patrick Schulte stopped a close chance from the Union in the 33rd minute. Kai Wagner descended on a mistimed pass from Jackson, taking advantage of the error for a forceful strike but Schulte got a hand on it sending it just over the net.
45', Union goal! | As time wound down in the first half, Philadelphia Union's energy ramped up, and they made the most of the final moments before heading into the locker room, scoring to earn a 1-0 lead.
As Rick readied to take a kick, he encouraged his teammates to push further up field, then blasted a pinpoint pass to Quinn Sullivan who dashed toward the net up the left before spotting Tai Baribo for the finish.
61' Columbus finds equalizer | In the 61st minute, Max Arfsten leveled the score, finding his team's first of the night off a pass from Dylan Chambost.
64' Frankie Westfield golazo! | It wasn't long before the Union reclaimed their lead -- three minutes after Columbus made it 1-1, Philadelphia Union found their second by way of a determined effort in front of the net that finished with a Frankie Westfield golazo. The homegrown defender took advantage of a pass out of chaos in the box from Baribo, powering it home from distance for his first-ever Philadelphia Union goal.
93', Columbus equalizes | The visitors found their second of the night to secure a 2-2 final score with a 93rd minute goal from Zawadzki off a set piece.
