Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
CHESTER, Pa. (April 26, 2025) – The Philadelphia Union earned its second consecutive win with a 3-0 victory against D.C. United at Subaru Park on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Union ranks second place in the Eastern Conference with 19 points. In the 15th minute, defender Jakob Glesnes opened the scoring with his first goal of the season. In the 52nd minute, midfielder Danley Jean Jacques scored his second goal in consecutive games to double the Union’s lead. In the 77th minute, forward Bruno Damiani scored to seal the Union’s 3-0 victory. Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered five saves to become the second fastest player to reach 80 regular season shutouts in MLS history.
The Union will travel to Stade Saputo to play CF Montréal on Saturday, May 3 (7:30 p.m. ET/ Apple TV).
GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Jakob Glesnes (Westfield, Vassilev) 15’
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (Q. Sullivan) 52’
PHI – Bruno Damiani (Uhre, Glesnes) 77’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
DC – Kye Rowles (caution) 4’
PHI – Jakob Glesnes (caution) 7’
PHI – Frankie Westfield (caution) 34’
DC – Hakim Karamoko (caution) 72’
DC – Luis Barraza (caution) 77’
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (caution) 90+6’
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Kai Wagner (Olwethu Makhanya 81’), Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel, Frankie Westfield; Jesús Bueno (Cavan Sullivan 62’ ), Danley Jean Jacques, Quinn Sullivan, Indiana Vassilev (Jeremy Rafanello 90’); Tai Baribo (Bruno Damiani 62’), Mikael Uhre (Chris Donovan 81’).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Neil Pierre, David Vazquez.
D.C. United: Luis Barraza; Jacob Murrell ( Rida Zouhir 71’), Lucas Bartlett, Lukas MacNaughton, Kye Rowles, Jared Stroud (Gabriel Pirani 66’) ; David Schnegg (Conner Antley 82’), Brandon Servania, Hosei Kijima ( Boris Enow 66’), Aaron Herrera; Dominique Badji (Hakim Karamoko 71’) .
Substitutes not used: Joonhong Kim, Matti Peltola, Randall Leal, Derek Dodson.
PSP’s Three Points
- Back to back – This was the second consecutive 3-0 win at home for the Union, dismantling Atlanta United and DC United and sending them packing.
- Danley shines again – With Jovan Lukic was out serving his suspension, Danley held down the fort in the middle of the park – scoring his second goal for the Club after potting his first last week. His box-to-box presence was immense again.
- Cavan sees his most minutes – Cavan Sullivan entered along with Bruno Damiani in the 62nd minute. In his 28+ minutes of run, he was active – throwing his body around and getting involved in breaks. Ultimately, Sullivan was held off the scoresheet, but was on the field for the Union’s third goal scored by Bruno Damiani.
Anyone know where bedoya was?
Hard to argue with 3 gols for and a clean sheet.
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But aside from the few moments when patterned play with proper technical skill moved the ball through the 3rds it’s really just ugly.
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Ball’s in the air constantly or being turned over as the sides just sprint back and forth.
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“It wears me out. It wears me out.”
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It ain’t gonna change. So, carry on.
Agreed, it’s tough to watch car crash soccer for 90 min. While it’s been effective, it’s definitely not my cup of tea.
In the first half, sitting in 116, it was remarkable how many times the Union had no width whatsoever. Harriel or Danley on the ball deep with both teams crammed in centrally. Led to poor passing options or no options other than a hoof-and-hope long ball. The team appeared to settle into a flat 4-4-2 out of possession once they had a goal, but it is a really sloppy, misshapen mess a lot of the time.
IMHO, this was not a case of our team was better than your team. Rather, it was a clear case of our GK is better than your GK.
Cavan looked comfortable playing yesterday and not out of place. Jakob only scores bangers. Danley is finding a groove. Indiana just goes to work. Bruno went beast mode for that goal. Andre…. Just Andre as you all understand. Tanner ten games in has the team he wants.
All of these things.
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The silly giveaways while kicking it forward are still frustrating, always will be. The payoff for that kind of play comes in the form of Bruno’s goal though – a method to the madness, even if it’s objectively madness.
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Another chance to rack up points. They all count the same.
Agree with everything above. Have to call out the 2-3 bad lapses in the back however. If DC converts any of those, it’s a different game. Better teams put those opportunities away. Dre bailed us out as we are accustomed to.
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Wouldn’t mind seeing what Pierre can do.
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Still a great win, and it was a fun day.
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Onward!
Was in section 116 and had a really good look at those early chances DC had. Twice they played someone through and I said out loud, “Oh that’s going to be a goal,” only for an off-target attempt or a good Dre save. Didn’t notice chances like that in the second half.
When was the last time DC United had sustained success? It’s gotta be coming up on 15 years at this point.
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Union took care of business and beat a bad team. What’s the goal for the season? Turn over the roster and playoffs? I think top four is a reach, but do-able. I want them to go all in for the USOC. Best chance at a trophy.
Playoffs (not the 8/9 play in game) would be a good feat for this team especially after trading Gazdag. Bench depth is not good but hopefully that can be upgraded in the summer since starters will inevitably miss matches for a multitude of reasons.
Excellent work !
DOOP !
Stay healthy-
Not a great first half… WAY BETTER and dominant second half. DC definitely missed a couple chances, but overall Union deserved the win. Agree that this is a playoff team, and not an 8/9 matchup playoff team.
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Need to keep the winning going against a winless Montreal team. Don’t have a let down.
First off, joint Union and DC United fan here. I lived in DC before moving to Philadelphia and now support both teams. This comment is from someone who is a fan of both teams.
Coach Lesense outcoached Carnell and it wasn’t even close. The quality on the rosters was so different that superior coaching just wasn’t going do make the difference.
United had more and better chances throughout the first half. That was because they executed the game plan from against the Red Bulls because Coach Carnell runs an even more simplistic version of a high press. Gave the Union the ball so they could turn it over. Boot it down the flanks. There was just nobody on the field for United who could shoot. It created chances when the Union was just floundering. That breakaway that Badji didn’t even get on frame was emblematic of the good coaching but dramatic holes in the talent level on the roster.
The Union’s second and third goals were better talent.
Don’t get too excited about that win because DC United just showed how to beat the Union without fail (provided that there is MLS-level talent in each position on the field, which is not the case for United). The Union has the individual quality to be dark horse MLS Cup contender but the coaching to struggle to make the playoffs or be a round 1 exit. They will have a slump and will fade down the stretch as that press system causes injuries and the other teams figure them out. That’s what happened at St. Louis with Coach Carnell and what will happen in Philadelphia.
I wanted to see DC United compete on the field and they did. I have no negative feelings for any of the DC technical staff. My negative feelings are for the DC ownership for not funding transfers or TAM buydowns so you are left with a USL roster with maybe 4 or 5 MLS level guys out there.
Celebrate getting 3 points as DC will gum it up for other playoff level teams just by being well coached. Just keep in perspective the need to work to figure out how to break down the opponent if they cede possession.