Philadelphia Union rallies for 2-1 win over Nashville SC with goal in 90th minute

Nashville SC dominated play in the first half and Philadelphia Union took charge in the second half so it came as little surprise the score was deadlocked late in Saturday's game at Geodis Park. It appeared Nashville SC was destined for yet another draw in the early part of the 2024 MLS season.

That was until Philadelphia's Daniel Gazdag was left open and scored off a standing header in the 90th minute off a corner kick. The header off a near-perfect kick from Jack McGlynn barely cleared the outstretched hands of Nashville goalie Elliott Panicco.

It left Philadelphia (3-0-3, 12 points) with a 2-1 win and Nashville (1-2-4, 7 points) still struggling heading into an open week.

Nashville dropped to 12th in the Eastern Conference while Philadelphia moved into second.

Nashville, which was without several key players with injuries including Walker Zimmerman, controlled the tempo early with an aggressive defense. The problem, however, was the Boys in Gold didn't get a shot on goal until 21:30 into the game. Philadelphia only had two shots at that point.

Nashville's offense finally opened up a few minutes later when Jacob Shaffelburg provided a service cross in from the left wing to lanky Sam Surridge, who scored on a header to the ground in the 42nd minute.

The scoring play kept alive a streak for Shaffelburg. It was Nashville's third straight goal scored off a Sheffelburg assist. His three assists leads the team. It was Surridge's second goal of the season.

After a lackadaisical first half Philadelphia came out with new energy on offense in the second. It finally capitalized and leveled the game when Julian Carranza took a short pass from Quinn Sullivan and scored from the front of the goal. It was Sullivan's fourth goal in MLS competition this season.

In what was expected to be a defensive battle, Nashville controlled possession at 57% in the first half. With Philadelphia's offense swiping the momentum in the second half ,Nashville finished with only a slight edge in possession 52%.

Philadelphia also erased a deficit in shots finishing ahead at 12-11.

Nashville kept pressure on Philadelphia's defense throughout the first half by earning corner kicks. Nashville had six before Philadelphia got its first and ended the half with a 7-1 edge.

Philadelphia, however, turned the tables in the second half, coming up with three corner kicks in the first 28 minutes. Nashville didn't get its next corner kick until the 82nd minute, an indication of how the momentum shifted from the first half to the second.

Philadelphia's scoring opportunities were limited in the first half, but it did get into position to level the score in stoppage time. Quinn Sullivan raced past the Nashville defense, but his shot from in front of the goal was deflected by Panicco.

Next up for Nashville SC

After 13 days off, Nashville SC will play at Miami on April 20 for a 6:30 p.m. CT game at Chase Stadium.

Nashville and Miami played to a 2-2 draw and Nashville defeated Miami 3-1 in the CONCACAF Cup Championship in March.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.