Fresh off of its 2024 Leagues Cup win over LAFC this past Sunday, the Columbus Crew took their talents to Chester, Pennsylvania for their rescheduled MLS matchup against the Philadelphia Union. The two met previously in the Leagues Cup semifinal, where the Crew escaped with a 3-1 win.

Head coach Wilfried Nancy rolled out a heavily rotated lineup making nine changes from the Crew’s Leagues Cup victory. Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi and Darlington Nagbe are names that highlighted a star-studded bench. Patrick Schulte returned between the sticks for the Black & Gold after playing just two matches in Leagues Cup, sitting out of the final as Nancy went with Nicholas Hagen.

The Philadelphia Union started their attack early, earning five corner kicks in the first four minutes of play. None of the set pieces would convert into a chance on goal for the home side, but head coach Jim Curtin was certainly pleased with how his side started the match.

New Crew acquisition Aziel Jackson had a shot on goal in the eighth minute come off of his left foot miss the net to the right of the frame as the Crew attacked the Delaware River end of Subaru Park.

Philadelphia had a good chance to take the lead in the 13th minute when Quinn Sullivan found Tai Baribo with a low-driven pass toward the near post. The Israeli forward redirected the ball on frame but had it ricochet off of the near post and out.

Schulte was called into work in the 38th minute when his quick reflexes pushed a shot on goal from Sullivan onto the crossbar and out.

Columbus had a few chances themselves to find the back of the net, but couldn’t get the breakthrough as both teams headed into their dressing rooms leveled at 0-0.

Jacen Russell-Rowe came close to opening the scoring for the Crew in the 59th minute, but his low-driven shot was easily saved by Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.

Wilfried Nancy made his substitutions early, bringing on Max Arfsten, Diego Rossi, and Yaw Yeboah in the 62nd minute. Three minutes after entering, Yeboah had a shot saved by Blake, giving Columbus a promising chance as the latter stages of the second half would start to roll in.

Nancy then brought on Cucho Hernandez, who is deemed to have the profile of prime Josef Martinez and Ignacio Piatti alongside veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe.

It wouldn’t take long for the super subs to make an impact on the game.

Malte Amundsen played a long ball towards Yeboah who laid it off for Hernandez before making a run towards the back post. Hernandez was able to take the space in front of him before sending a pass out wide to Arfsten who dribbled towards the end line before clipping the ball to the back post to meet the head of Yeboah and putting it past two Union defenders and into the back of the net.

That lone goal was enough to give Columbus three crucial points as they inch closer to leapfrogging rivals FC Cincinnati for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Big win in Chester

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Columbus Crew claimed a win against the Philadelphia Union in Chester. The last time the Crew got a win away in Chester came in 2015. This also marks the first time the Crew have gained at least a point against the Union on the road since 2018.

Super subs are the difference

With a very talented bench in general, the substitutes became the difference maker for Wilfried Nancy and company. Yeboah scored the game-winner with the assists from Max Arfsten and Cucho Hernandez, who were rotated after playing significant minutes in the Leagues Cup Final.

What’s next?

The Columbus Crew are back at home Saturday, August 31 as they host New York City FC. Kickoff from Lower.com Field is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT. You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.