The Philadelphia Union didn't lose this past weekend against first-place Nashville, but they did secure their second 0-0 draw at Subaru Park in the last two home matches. Seeing last-place Philly get a point against first-place Nashville seems like a good result on paper, but when digging a little deeper, there may have been a big opportunity missed by Philly to get more than a measly point.
Bradley Carnell put out what is likely the Union's strongest starting XI; the same cannot be said of first-place Nashville SC. Nashville is in between semifinal legs of the Concacaf Champions Cup, and head coach BJ Callaghan chose to rotate most of his squad because of that. Before a ball was even kicked, the Union had an advantage over Nashville, but did they capitalize on that?
Philadelphia Union Starting XI vs Nashville SC:
GK: Blake
LB: Westfield CB: Makhanya CB: Sery RB: Harriel
The answer to that question is no. Despite the Union having almost half of possession, and having the better of Nashville in expected goals (1.64-0.50), total shots (16-8), shots on target (4-1), touches in the opposition box (26-14), and big chances (3-2), they failed to get a goal. This has been an issue all year, but against a rotated team makes this really damning.
If Philly had gotten a goal and a first home win in 2026, they wouldn't have moved up the table because other teams just above them were getting wins, but it would have helped the team's momentum. The Union has just four more games before an almost two-month break for the World Cup. Wins and confidence need to flow soon, or this season will be a total failure. The win didn't come last Saturday, so what is there to take away about this Philadelphia side that hasn't been said for the majority of this season?
One thing Union fans could take from this game was that the team's structure looked much better in their 11th game than in previous matches. Was that because Carnell finally got his "best" starting XI on the pitch, or was it because Nashville trotted out a heavily rotated team? We won't know until the next match, but if there's a sliver of hope to take from this game, it's that.
Who knows if the Union has finally figured out the spacing needed on the pitch to play its pressing system; however, one thing that is certain is that there are players who are the spark for this team, and those players are its Homegrowns. Players like Nate Harriel, Cavan Sullivan, and Frankie Westfield have been Philly's most consistent this season. You can tell they care, and it's a shame that not every player on the roster does to the extent these youngsters do.
The longer the Union stays in the basement of the East, and the closer to the end of May and that World Cup break, the more likely it is that Philly will look for change. Whether that is a change on the pitch in terms of play style or personnel, or maybe some kind of change off the field in the ranks of the front office or coaching staff, is unclear. Nevertheless, if the Union takes a two-month break and does nothing, that will say more than any change would. There have to be repercussions for a poor first 15 games, right?
Philly plays at New England, at Orlando, vs Columbus, and then at Miami before this break. Wins and points need to be claimed; if not, then it may just be time for drastic changes.
