Philadelphia Union rallied in the second half to secure their first win of the 2026 season, earning a 2-1 victory over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
After a tightly contested opening stretch, Montréal took the early lead through Iván Jaime before the Union responded after the break. Philadelphia found its equalizer in the second half, as Milan Iloski delivered a ball that Japhet Sery Larsen finished with a header for his first goal with the Union.
The goal sparked momentum for the Boys in Blue, with Jesús Bueno providing the game-winner in the 77th minute as Philadelphia held on to secure the comeback victory.
Philadelphia Union returns to Subaru Park next weekend with a rivalry showdown against D.C United. Tickets for the Saturday, April 18th, contest can be purchased online by clicking here.
How The Match Unfolded
Head Coach Bradley Carnell sent out another never-before-seen lineup on Saturday afternoon in Montréal, starting Bender Bender for the first time in 2026. Â
Andre Blake started the match between the posts behind one of the team’s strongest backlines featuring Nathan Harriel, Frankie Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, and Japhet Sery Larsen.
Danley Jean Jacques, who’s started every one of the team’s six games so far this season, was listed questionable on the team’s injury report, but ultimately was not included in the team’s matchday roster. In his absence, Jesus Bueno earned his third start of the year, lining up in the midfield with Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, and Bender, while Milan Iloski and Bruno Damiani were Carnell’s chosen attacking duo.Â
On the bench, Andrew Rick was Blake’s backup, sitting alongside Geiner Martinez, Phillipe Ndinga, Finn Sundstrom, Alejandro Bedoya, Jeremy Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan, Ezekiel Alladoh, and Malik Jakupovic.Â
1', Saturday matinee begins | It was a sunny Saturday matchday in Montréal as the Boys in Blue embarked on another opportunity to find their first three points of the season.
10', Physical first stretch | Philly and Montreal traded free kicks early, each earning a pair in a foul-heavy opening 10 minutes.
12', VAR check | Andre Blake made an athletic stop in the 12th minute, swiftly advancing for a diving stop against Ivan Jaime. The Jamaican keeper's effort was flagged by the official, forcing him to take a trip to VAR, where he ultimately made the clean play call in favor of Blake.
19', Montreal chance | Blake made an important save in the 19th, as Thórhallsson found Montreal's first shot of the match from the center of the box.Â
22', Philly chance | A free kick won by Milan Iloski created Philly's first chance, with Bruno Damiani taking a shot in the box but his attempt went over.Â
23', Montreal take the lead | The hosts opened scoring with their first goal at Stade Saputo in 2026 -- Jaime was the scorer, capitalizing on a assit from EfraÃn Morales for a shot to the bottom right corner.Â
29', Union free kick | Vassilev took a free kick after it was won by Iloski. The initial attempt was blocked by Montreal's wall, and while Iloski found the rebound, he powered the ball above the goal and into the host's Supporters' Section.
37', Montreal subs | Wiki Carmona was forced to leave the match due to injury, replaced by Fabian Herbers.
45', Added time | Two VAR reviews and a physical first half created eight minutes of stoppage time to end the second half.
45+5', Bueno blast | Just before the break, the Boys in Blue almost found an equalizer with a half clearance falling into the path of Jesus Bueno for a rocket atop the box that forced a diving save.
51', Big save by Blake | The homeside nearly doubled their lead early in the second half as Matty Longstaff got a flick off a cross that was pawed away by Blake.​
55', Union equalizer! | Philadelphia Union found the equalizer 10 minuts into the second half, creating off a free kick. The service from Iloski into the box found defender Japhet Sery Larsen at the near post, who redirected the ball for a glancing header past Gillier.
66', First Union substitutions | With the squad chasing to all three points, Head Coach Bradley Carnell made an offensive change sending in Ezekiel Alladoh in place of Ben Bender.
70', Bueno makes it 2-1 | Alladoh had an instant impact on the match with the forward picking out a run from Jesus Bueno that gave the Boys in Blue their first lead of 2026 in league play.
81', Union substitutions | With a one-goal lead on the road, Carnell sought to strengthen up the defense with Philippe Ndinga in for the goalscoring Sery while Alejandro Bedoya replaced Iloski.
84', Philly denied a third | The Boys in Blue nearly put the match away with just over five minutes remaining with Makhanya and Bedoya seeing scoring efforts saved in the box.
88', Union substitution | The final subsitution of the match for Philly saw a midfield swap with Cavan Sullivan replacing Indiana Vassilev.
