In a thrilling end-to-end Saturday night match at Subaru Park, the Columbus Crew clawed back to earn a point on the road against the Philadelphia Union thanks to a Sean Zawadzki goal deep into injury time. With the result, the Black & Gold continues its undefeated record away from home in the 2025 MLS season. 

The Eastern Conference showdown between the division’s two highest-placed teams had a strong billing heading into the matchup: Two sides eager to showcase their domination as counter-pressing sides that expose their opponents’ vulnerabilities. Their abilities to build out of the back, prowess in controlling possession, and skill in threading passes behind backlines have dealt blows to MLS opponents this season. The match also served as a homecoming for the Crew’s newest recruit, Daniel Gazdag, who appeared against his former side for the first time, for whom he scored 59 goals in 125 MLS regular season appearances since 2021 before signing with the Crew this season.

The match lived up to its billing and then some, and Black & Gold fans are sure to feel content with the final scoreline given the match’s events.

In a game that saw both sides explode with energy from kickoff, Philly nearly got on the front foot in the opening six minutes. Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan snuck past Crew defenders and shielded the ball before guiding a cross to Tai Baribo, who lurked in the Crew’s six-yard box. Baribo found the back of the net with an easy one-touch finish, but the goal was ruled out for offsides. The score remained at a stalemate for the time being, but the overruled goal foreshadowed the ever-present threat of Sullivan and Baribo’s attacking partnership. 

Mohamed Farsi created a scoring chance in the 10th minute of play as he barreled down the pitch before threading a pass to AZ. With only 19-year-old goalkeeper Andrew Rick to beat, AZ’s shot was pushed out wide for a corner. 

Patrick Schulte sprang into action in the 32nd minute after a poor backpass from AZ was struck first-time from distance by Philadelphia’s Kai Wagner. The shot, a missile toward the upper right corner, forced Schulte to stretch his body high and wide across the goal to meet the ball with a strong left hand that deflected it for a corner.

In the closing moments of the first half, a seemingly harmless Philadelphia free kick from 70 yards out led to the home team’s opening goal. Rick lobbed the ball to Sullivan, who remained onside with a well-timed run and caught the Crew’s high line by surprise. Sullivan carried the ball down the left flank and found Baribo’s right foot with a trivela cross, nearly identical to the Union’s offside opportunity in the 6th minute. Baribo’s shot flew past Schulte and into the back of the net, putting the Union ahead just before the half. 

Needing an answer to the Union’s opener, Max Arfsten provided hope for the Black & Gold with a goal in the 61st minute to even the score. As the Union defence focused on the Crew’s overloaded right flank, Dylan Chambost played in a curling cross from the right, which found Arfsten wide open at the left back post. Arfsten calmly struck the ball first-time into the bottom right corner of the goal, getting the Crew right back into the game. 

Unfortunately for the Black & Gold, the momentum shift that came with that goal lasted only three minutes. Danlet Jean Jacques dribbled down the left toward goal for the Union before cutting the ball back to Tai Baribo, with Crew defenders scrambling for a clearance. Baribo, his back facing goal, saw Francis Westfield at the edge of the 18-yard-box, passed the ball in his direction, and the 19-year-old defender blasted the ball into the roof of the net first-time for his first-ever MLS goal, leaving Schulte with no time to make a save. 

With hope dwindling and time ticking, three minutes into the four allotted minutes of injury time, the Black & Gold received a corner kick. Chambost guided a cross into the Union’s penalty area, which Diego Rossi met with his head and flicked into space, finding Sean Zawadzki who struck the bouncing ball with his right foot before the Union defenders could reach it and tucked it left past the keeper. 

If there is one thing we know about the Columbus Crew, it is that they do not go down without a fight. Once again, with the odds stacked against them in the final stages of a match, they found an opening and earned a crucial point on the road against strong opposition. Some might call it lucky, while others may call it inevitable. Nevertheless, the Balck & Gold remained in the game despite setbacks and made the most of their final opportunity. 

Following FC Cincinnati’s 2-1 win against Austin FC, FCC and the Black & Gold sit level on 25 points, further emphasizing the importance of Saturday, May 17th’s Hell is Real derby at Lower.com Field. 

The Black & Gold will hope to continue their undefeated streak on the road as they take on CF Montréal in their next MLS match, a midweek fixture on Wednesday, May 14th.