Aug 28, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) plays the ball in the second half against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
Substitute Yaw Yeboah scored in the 75th minute and Patrick Schulte made two saves to help the Columbus Crew defeat host Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Wednesday.
The Crew’s (13-4-7, 46 points) last won in Philadelphia on Sept. 12, 2015.
Yeboah and Max Arfsten came on in the 62nd minute and combined to score the goal with the help of another late substitute, Cucho Hernandez, whose cross sent Arfsten down the left flank.
Hernandez dribbled towards the byline and then sent a cross into the 6-yard box where Yeboah was left unmarked for a header that took a rebound before settling inside the left post for his first goal of the season.
Andre Blake made six saves for the Union (6-11-9, 27 points), who squandered a chance to overtake Atlanta United for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The match was rescheduled due to the Leagues Cup, which was played on Saturday. On Sunday, Philadelphia lost the third-place match to visiting Colorado on penalties, while the host Crew defeated Los Angeles FC 3-1 in the title match, in a rematch of the 2023 MLS Cup, which the Crew also won.
It was no surprise that Crew coach Wilfried Nancy made sweeping changes with only defender Malte Amundsen and midfielder Sean Zawadzki remaining from the starting lineup on Sunday.
That left Hernandez (13 MLS goals), Diego Rossi (nine) and Christian Ramirez (seven) on the bench.
Rossi came on in the 62nd minute and Hernández followed nine minutes later.
The Crew was fortunate to get through the first half with the score tied at 0-0. They allowed five corner kicks in the first six minutes to the Union.
Columbus came away unscathed, but Philadelphia had some bad luck later in the first half. In the 13th minute, Tai Baribo, who had been honored before the match for being the Leagues Cup’s top scorer (seven), slammed a shot off the right post.
In the 38th minute, Quinn Sullivan fired a shot from close range and Schulte made a powerful left-footed save that sent the ball off the crossbar.
–Field level media
