Philadelphia Union lost to Orlando City SC by a score of 4-3 after a late goal decided the match, according to a May 14 press release. Homegrown player Cavan Sullivan scored his first Major League Soccer (MLS) goal, but the team’s comeback attempt ultimately fell short.
The result matters for Philadelphia Union as it reflects both the challenges and potential of their roster, especially with several starters sidelined due to injury. The team twice came back from two-goal deficits before conceding a decisive goal late in the game.
Orlando City took an early lead with goals from MartÃn Ojeda and Griffin Dorsey. Milan Iloski narrowed the gap for Philadelphia in the second half, followed by Sullivan’s milestone MLS goal that made him one of the youngest scorers in league history. Ben Bender later equalized for Philadelphia, but Ojeda secured victory for Orlando with his second goal near full time.
The Union played with an altered lineup due to injuries among key players. Andrew Rick started as goalkeeper in place of Andre Blake, while other changes included Nathan Harriel and Geiner Martinez on defense and Jovan Lukic paired with Jeremy Rafanello in midfield. Despite these adjustments, Philadelphia managed several scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Philadelphia Union features a roster of professional players on its main team and achieved the Supporters’ Shield in 2020 for best regular-season performance in Major League Soccer, according to the official website. The club operates out of Subaru Park—a soccer-specific stadium—and is involved not only in elite competition but also fan engagement and youth programs within Major League Soccer.
Looking ahead, Philadelphia Union will return home to face Columbus Crew at Subaru Park on Saturday night as part of Unity Night presented by Penn Medicine.
