Philadelphia Union blast D.C. United in the rain

Field Level Media|published: Sat 26th April, 19:18 2025

Apr 26, 2025; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union defender Nathan Harriel (26) shields the ball from D.C. United midfielder Jared Stroud (8) during the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Union got goals from three different players for the second straight week and rolled past D.C. United 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Chester, Pa.

Jakob Glesnes scored in the first half and Danley Jean Jacques and Bruno Damiani tacked on tallies after intermission as Philadelphia (6-3-1, 19 points) won its second straight and remained undefeated in its last eight matches against D.C.

In a game played through squalls of heavy rain in the first half and in bright sunshine in the second half, Philadelphia keeper Andre Blake made five saves to notch his second straight clean sheet.

It also was the fifth loss in the last six matches for D.C. United (2-5-3, 9 points), who were without top scorer Christian Benteke (quad) and Joao Peglow (thigh).

Peglow, who scored two spectacular goals last week in a 2-1 win at the New York Red Bulls, was a surprise scratch as he sustained his injury Friday in a training session, the team said.

D.C. United found cracks in the defense of Philadelphia but had difficulty finishing without their top two threats.

Philadelphia struck first in the 15th minute as Frankie Westfield tossed a throw-in to Indiana Vassilev, who tapped the ball back to Westfield on the deep right flank.

Westfield delivered a curling cross to the instep of Glesnes, who one-timed a right-footed shot from 12 yards out into the top right corner past frozen D.C. keeper Luis Barraza (three saves).

It was the first goal this year for Glesnes, a defender, and his ninth in six seasons with the Union.

In the rest of the first half, Jacob Murrell had two chances to score but was high with an overhead kick and with a left-footed shot off transition which Blake stopped.

In the 52nd minute, Jean Jacques scored for the second straight week.

After freeing himself with a deft touch between the legs of a defender, Jean Jacques dribbled to the top of the box and ripped a low, left-footed blast that was just out of the reach of Barraza and kissed off the right post for a 2-0 lead.

Damiani closed the scoring for the Union in the 77th minute as he gathered a header from Mikael Uhre and fired a left-footed shot with D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett draped on his back.

--Field Level Media