Philadelphia’s 3-1 win over Colorado lands Union in first in east

July 26, 2025

Chester, PA

With Colorado’s weak road record, and Philadelphia’s strength at home, many predicted that Saturday’s matchup between the Colorado Rapids and the Philadelphia Union would end in Philadelphia’s favor – and it did.  But it took Philadelphia until late in the game to earn its three points.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. The game numbers speak volumes about Philadelphia’s control of Colorado.  Uncharacteristically, Philadelphia had a 61.3 percent time of possession, and shot 11 on target to 1 shot on goal for Colorado.  Shot attempts were 27 to 5 in favor of Philadelphia.  The Union had 11 corners to Colorado’s 1 corner. The Colorado keeper, Zach Steffen, had 8 saves on the evening.

A momentary defensive breakdown in the 37th minute, however, resulted in Colorado owning the first goal of the game. The Rapids had a fast break and Cole Basssett’s shot hit the bar and rebounded to the left.  A charging Rafael Navarro headed the ball into the left corner past Philadelphia’s keeper Andre Blake and defender Jakob Glesnes.   Despite many shot attempts from Philadelphia, Colorado took the one goal lead into the locker room at the half.

The Colorado lead held until the 64th minute, when Tai Baribo tapped the ball past Colorado keeper Zach Steffen off of a Kai Wagner cross after a corner.  With that goal, Baribo is tied for third with Evander Da Silva Ferreira of F.C. Cincinnati in the Golden Boot race.

With the score tied 1-1, Philadelphia continued its offensive pressure.  In the 73rd minute, Mikael Uhre subbed into the game for Bruno Damiani, but it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Philadelphia took over the lead.    Indiana Vassilev on the left found Uhre in the middle and passed right.  Uhre banked his shot to the inside of the right upright bar and the ball ricocheted to the back of the net.

That essentially allowed the 6 minutes of stoppage time for Colorado to attempt a score for a draw.  Instead, during the 4th minute of stoppage time Alejandro Bedoya made a through pass, allowing Uhre to go off to the races.  Uhre shot through Steffen’s legs for his second goal of the evening.  That ended the evening with a Union victory at 3-1.

Photographs of the game appear below:

 

So close.  Union fans felt that the ball spun into the goal in the first half. Colorado’s Cole Bassett tries to shoulder Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan off of the ball.  Colorado’s Rafael Navarro heading the rebound into the Union goal.Philadelphia’s Jovan Lukic looking for an open pass. The newly-anointed MLS all-star MVP Tai Baribo notches yet another goal on the year. Colorado’s Darren Yapi complaining as the Union’s Jakob Glesnes strips the ball from him. The Union’s Bruno Damiani collects the ball near the sideline.