Nashville spoils Philadelphia’s unblemished record

March 16, 2025

Chester, PA

The game started with optimism of a Sunday afternoon, as the Philadelphia Union (then 3-0) attempted to hold onto the top slot of the MLS East table. But Nashville S.C. had different plans, as it embarked on a defensive – “score on the counter” strategy. Fans legitimately could quibble about a few key calls by the referee, but in the final analysis, Philadelphia had opportunities to draw – or perhaps even to win – but was unable to capitalize.

The scoring started at the 15th minute when Sam Surridge put Nashville on the board, assisted by a Walker Zimmerman punt past Philadelphia’s high line. Surridge sprinted and maneuvered around slip and falls by both Frankie Westfield and Jakob Glesnes trying to get back to defend.

Philadelphia leveled the score at 1-1 at the 33rd minute off a Kai Wagner corner from the right side. While Nashville’s Joe Willis tried to punch away the corner cross, the ball deflected up and directly onto the waiting foot of Philadelphia’s Jovan Lukic. Lukic’s shot was a banger under any circumstance, but Willis had taken a knock and the net was wide open as he struggled to get back on his feet.

A level score would have been acceptable before the half, but at the 44th minute, Nashville scored again. Ahmed Qasem added his goal off an impossible angle, with the assist going to Philadelphia’s home town hero, Danny Lovitz. At the half, Nashville led the score at 1-2.

Philadelphia fans might claim that, despite VAR review, the penalty awarded to Nashville for Glesnes’s head-to-head knock (78th minute) was inequitable given the lack of a penalty for a trip of Quinn Sullivan (60th minute) in the box. Certainly, as noted by Coach Bradley Carnell, the PK did shift the momentum toward Nashville as Hany Mukhtar converted the penalty at the 82nd minute. The PK led to the final score of 1-3.

That said, Philadelphia had its chances and credit is due to Nashville’s keeper Willis for holding Philadelphia to one goal. At the 57th minute, Quinn Sullivan crossed from the right and the ball deflected off of Tai Baribo directly onto Daniel Gazdag’s chest, leading to a good opportunity for Gazdag. Willis made the save. Then, during stoppage time, Lovitz took out Philadelphia’s Chris Donovan in the box and this time the referee did award a PK to Philadelphia. Quinn Sullivan took the PK, but did little to camouflage its direction. Again, Willis made the save. Seconds later, Willis saved the rebound shot by Philadelphia’s Bruno Damiani.

The game resulted in Philadelphia dipping from first to second on the MLS East table.

Photographs of the game appear below:

Lukic’s shot ended up as Philadelphia’s lone goal.