After falling behind in the 75th minute up in Toronto on Wednesday night, late goals from Nate Harriel and Kai Wagner steals all 3 points for the Union and gives them their 10th win of the MLS season, making them the first team to reach that marker in 2025.
The dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory was the Union’s first in Toronto since 2019, and marks the first time in club history that the Union have won a match after trailing in the 85th minute or later. Union’s record in MLS play improves to 10W-3D-3L on the season with a total of 33 points, which has the blue and gold standing at the top of the Supporters Shield leader board following the conclusion of Matchday 16.
“We know we’re a real weapon with set piece delivery and when you need a set piece to come out most, we delivered on the night. And then through momentum and sheer energy and commitment and belief and hunger we find a way to win the game, the energy is incredible within the group right now and we just keep finding a way to ride the wave of momentum.” – Bradley Carnell
Starting XI
The big news in the starting XI on Wednesday night was Andre Blake’s return to action, making his first start since May 3rd at Montreal. Blake’s inclusion means Andrew Rick – who played great in Blake’s absence – is moved back to the bench for the time being.
Jesús Bueno made his 5th start of the season in the midfield, while newly acquired Ben Bender started the game on the bench and made his Union debut in the 83rd minute of the game, just before Union scored both of their goals.
Formation: 4-2-2-2
GK: Blake
RB: Westfield, CB: Glesnes, CB: Harriel. LB: Wagner
CDM: Lukic, CDM: Bueno
CAM: Q. Sullivan, CAM: Vassilev
ST: Damiani, ST: Baribo
Subs Used: Danley Jean-Jacques (67th), Mikael Uhre (67th), Ale Bedoya (76th), Ben Bender (83rd)
Subs Not Used: Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Olwethu Makhanya, Jeremey Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan.
Brynhildsen Gives Toronto Surprise Late Lead
Despite Union controlling much of the game, it was Ola Brynhildsen who broke the deadlock in the 75th minute when a ball from Deybi Flores sent over the top caught Union’s backline napping. Brynhildsen collected the ball with Nate Harriel in the general vicinity and Jakob Glesnes not far off either, but as the 26 year old Norwegian headed down the right flank and towards net, further away the Union defenders got, and Brynhildsen made them pay with a top-shelf finish to give Toronto the late lead.
It was Brynhildsen’s 2nd of the MLS season, and set Toronto FC up for their first win at home in the 2025 season.
“You could see the gameplan of Robin [Fraser] all night which was to try and get in behind and I thought we were excellent, first ball, second ball, coming back into the game I think everyone dug real deep, but we go a goal down against the run of play and against the run of control, and these things happen, and I’m really happy for the group that we could find a way back in the game.” – Bradley Carnell
Nate Harriel Heads Union Level
In the 87th minute and in desperation time, Union drew themselves level in Toronto thanks to an emphatic header coming from a corner off Right Back Nate Harriel. Kai Wagner sent the inviting set piece opportunity into the box from Sean Johnson’s right side, which dazed the Toronto keeper into staying on his line and found the run of Nate Harriel just outside the 6-yard box. Harriel rose up over a Toronto defender and headed the ball past the right palm of Sean Johnson and into the net to tie the game.
The late equalizer was Nate Harriel’s 2nd goal of the MLS season, and his 6th as a member of the Union in MLS play. The assist from Kai Wagner was his 7th of the 2025 campaign, the 2nd most in all of Major League Soccer.
“[Frank Leicht] has a set way of working, but then to find the moment that works for us both, and we know the delivery of Quinn, Indy, Kai, and then we’ve got unassuming headers of the ball like Frankie, Nate, and then all the rest of them, Tai Baribo has great timing in the air, so we have options and we’re pretty creative in the way we use them. But nothing beats a good set piece delivery on the quality and execution, and nothing beats the timing of the run. [Frank Leicht] dedicates a lot of time to it, we believe 30% of our goals should come from set pieces, I think we’re trending a little bit higher than that this season, but we’ll take it” – Bradley Carnell
Wagner Deflection Wins it Late for Union
Having already stolen a point with the late equalizer from Harriel, Bradley Carnell’s Union smelled blood in the water and searched for a late winner in hopes of leaving Toronto with all 3 points in their pocket.
With time running out and Toronto desperately holding on to 1 point, a botched clearance in the 92nd minute from TFC on a long throw into the box fell to Kai Wagner outside the penalty area. Wagner settled the ball with his first touch and let go of a left-footed blast with his 2nd, which took a nasty deflection off a Toronto defender outside the penalty area and redirected past Sean Johnson and into the corner of the net to earn Union a come-from-behind 2-1 win in stoppage time.
The goal was Kai Wagner’s first of the 2025 MLS season, and is his first goal since April 14th of 2024 where he scored against Atlanta United.
Marvelous Month of May
The Come-from-behind victory continues a stellar month of May for Bradley Carnell and the Union, who have improved their record to 6W-2D-0L during the busiest stretch of the 2025 season. Outside of draws to Columbus Crew and Inter Miami where Union conceded late goals to give away the lead, the Union have been near perfect during the month of May.
Bradley Carnell has rotated the squad, shown trust and confidence in every player available to him, and has everybody moving in the right direction and believing in their model, which is bringing fruitful results for the Union during this chaotic stretch.
Just about midway through the season and following the conclusion of Machday 16, the Philadelphia Union lead MLS in Wins (10), Points (33), Set Piece Goals (12), Points Gained in the Final 15 Minutes (9), and assists (38). The Union have scored the 2nd most goals in all of MLS with 32, just one behind San Jose Earthquakes.
What’s Next For The Union
The Union face another quick turnaround and fly out West to take on Lucho Acosta and FC Dallas this Saturday night, looking to extend their unbeaten streak across all competitions to 11, finish the Month of May without a loss, and continue building on a current and very slim Supporters Shield and Eastern Conference table lead.
I don’t think it’s time to start seriously talking about contending for trophies just yet, but the match against FC Dallas marks the mid-way point of the 2025 MLS season, and for the Union to be anywhere near the top of the Supporters Shield standings in a really, really great place to be in.
“Things haven’t been perfect, but things have been great. And on the road to strive for perfection and to continue the journey we’re doing, we’ve still been very critical of where we’ve dropped points or where we’ve dropped moments, but as long as we’re all pointing in the right direction and there’s a synergy and alignment and a synchronization in everything we do, you kind of get lucky through the heart of your work, through the moments you create, and that’s been excellent in the group – they haven’t stopped believing.” – Bradley Carnell
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
