On late goal, Union top Nashville SC to remain unbeaten

Daniel Gazdag scored the winning goal in the 90th minute Saturday night and the visiting Philadelphia Union remained undefeated with a 2-1 decision over Nashville SC.

Jack McGlynn set him up with a corner kick and Gazdag delivered as Philadelphia boosted its record to 3-0-3, good for 12 points. The result dropped Nashville SC to 1-2-4 and just seven points in its first seven matches.

The Union trailed 1-0 in the 62nd minute when Julian Carranza equalized with a spectacular marker. He took Quinn Sullivan's pass in the box and poked a right-footed shot past goalie Elliot Joseph Panicco to quiet a raucous crowd at GEODIS Park.

Controlling play for most of the second half, Philadelphia posted a 12-9 advantage in shots and put six shots on frame to Nashville SC's five. Gazdag led all players in the match, putting three shots on goal. Sullivan also squeezed off three shots, although just one was on net.

Nashville SC is winless in its last three matches despite owning a three percent advantage in possession time and earning eight corner kicks to the Union's five. This was its first loss in five matches at home.

Looking for three points after drawing four of its first six matches, Nashville SC took about 20 minutes to start mounting a consistent attack on the Philadelphia defense. It spent most of the next 25 minutes controlling play.

Nashville SC's pressure paid off in the 42nd minute, courtesy of Jacob Shaffelburg. He went one-on-one with a defender on the left side near the goal line and crossed beautifully into the box. Sam Surridge powered through a defender to the right of goalkeeper Oliver Semmle and headed the ball into the net for the match's first goal.

The Union finally mounted a counterattack in stoppage time but it didn't pay off despite a late shot and a corner, enabling Nashville SC to head for the half with a 1-0 lead.

--Field Level Media