Philadelphia Union earned their second straight home shutout but had to split a point with Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC on Saturday night.
With the East's top side in the midst of a tight Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinal with Tigres, the Boys in Blue were on the front foot for match of the match but saw a pair of second half chances crash off the post.Â
On the defensive end, Andre Blake and the back line allowed just two shots with the three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year making a reaction save to keep it scoreless in the 74th minute.
Philadelphia Union are back in action next weekend as they take on the New England Revolution on Saturday, May 9th. Kick off from Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30PM with coverage on Apple TV.
How The Match Unfolded
LINEUP NOTES
Head Coach Bradley Carnell sent out an opening squad with four changes from the team's previous match in Columbus.Â
Andre Blake started in net, protected by a backline featuring Frankie Westfield who returned from injury, Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, and Japhet Sery Larsen. The latter centerback wasn't expected to be available for the match at the start of the week due to a red card in the dyign moments of the second half, but after a successful appeal from theh Union, it was rescinded by Thursday.Â
Jovan Lukic returned to the starting XI to join Danley Jean Jacques at the 6, plus Cavan Sullivan and Indiana Vassilev in the midfield. Ezekiel Alladoh and Milan Iloski were paired up top, while Bruno Damiani began the match on the bench after starting all 10 MLS matches to open the season.
11', Lukic chance | There was some early energy from the Boys in Blue with two attempts in the first five minutes, but the team's most promising chance in the opening matches game in the 11th with a run up the middle from Jovan Lukic. The Serbian defensive midfielder tried to pass the ball to Danley, but was stopped by Nashville defenders. He kept with the run himself, and took a shot to the top right corner but it sailed over.
13', Geiner Martinez sub |Â Japhet Sery Larsen was forced to leave the match injured, giving Geiner Martinez his third MLS appearance as a sub.Â
28', Sullivan shot | Cavan Sullivan won a free kick after being fouled by Josh Bauer, and after an Iloski from the left sideline, the young midfielder took a shot toward the near post stopped by Nashville keeper Brian Schwake.
45', Halftime | After four minutes of added time, the first half finished 0-0 with just two total shots on target.
49', Iloski misses right | Iloski found an opportunity in the first five minutes of second half, running onto a curling pass into the box up the left sideline from Frankie Westfield. Iloski beat Woledzi for an open shot, but missed the net right.Â
53', Post! | As urgency ramped on the field and in the stadium after a close Nashville chance, Vassilev took a shot from the central position outside of the box, seeimingly in response to an boisterous encouragement to shoot from the River End. His blast nearly opened scoring, but was saved by the post.
54', Iloski shot goes over | Iloski matched his teammate's effort with a similar shot from distance, but his attempt went over.Â
62', Nashville subs | Nashville Head Coach BJ Callaghan sent out impact subs for the final 30 minutes of regular time, most notably adding on Hany Muhktar who entered the match having eight goal contributions so far in 2026.Â
64', Yellow card | Geiner Martinez was shown his first yellow in MLS play for a foul on Ahmed Qasem.Â
69', Union subs | After successfully defending a pair of set pieces from the Tennessee side, Carnell made his first personel changes of the half sending in Agustin Anello and Bruno Damiani in place of Vassilev and Sullivan.
72', The Post Strikes Back | The swap nearly saw delivered a goal with one of Anello's first touches of the match coming from a corner of the 18-yard-box. Seeing space for a blast, the winger blasted it but saw it crash off the post.
74', Brick Wall Blake | With just over 15 minutes left the chances began to build with Nashville SC nearly breaking the dead lock. A long cross into the box left a one-timer tap in for Ahmed Qasem but his flick to the post was denied by an incredible save by three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake.
77', Iloski saved | Bouyed by the big stop at the back, Philly sought a quick response with an Iloski counter that saw a shot from the edge of the 18 but once again saved by Brian Schwake.
85', Trio of chances come up empty | The Boys in Blue bullied Nashville SC into their own third for almost five minutes seeing three half chances end up on the wrong side of the net.
