The Union came out intent on disrupting the Crew’s intricate buildup play with coordinated pressing. Although the plan worked well, it did not result in many clear opportunities. That changed in the 11th minute when Cory Burke forced Lalas Abubakar to give up the ball on the left wing. Burke drove into the box and cut to his left, but Jonathan Mensah came across to block the shot.
Columbus responded by attacking the space behind Keegan Rosenberry. In the 14th minute, Justin Meram got down the Crew’s left and centered the ball for Gyasi Zardes, but the striker couldn’t stick out a foot to direct it in.
Philly largely had control of the match and prevented the Crew from turning their buildup play into chances, but Columbus found opportunities by isolating Federico Higuain on Haris Medunjanin and playing through Philly’s lines. Mark McKenzie needed to be alert covering wide to prevent the Crew from finding big chances in transition.
In the 34th minute, Medunjanin managed to get further forward and combine with Bedoya down the right half-space. The captain cut a pass back through the box but nobody put it away.
Then, two minutes later, Medunjanin picked out Burke going long down the right channel. The big striker tangled with Abubakar, who fell backwards, and then controlled the ball, drove in on goal and put a centering pass onto Mensah’s feet that was knocked in for an own goal. Eventually, referee Drew Fischer went to VAR and called the play back, apparently indicating there had been a soft foul on Burke.
Philadelphia came out in the second half intent on getting physical with the Crew. Four minutes in, Bedoya touched the ball over Abubakar and sent an early cross into the box for Burke. The Jamaican collided with Zack Steffen, though neither touched the ball, and Fischer asserted that the striker had fouled the goalie.
In the 60th minute, the Union had another half-chance when Fabinho got high up the left side and dropped a cross into the box that was cleared out to Bedoya’s right foot. The midfielder sizzled a half-volley toward the goal but it swerved wide.
Columbus responded through their leading goalscorer, Gyasi Zardes. Meram put the ball onto his right foot and sought the striker’s head, but Zardes could only put his chance over the bar.
Philly’s 75th minute free kick from Medunjanin hit the Crew wall — possibly off an arm — and four minutes later Columbus countered quickly through Meram up the left and forced Balke to come out and push a low cross out of play for a corner.
With Borek Dockal on as a late sub, Philly made a push in the final then minutes. The attacker put a cross into the box from the right ath Picault cushioned for Burke, but the striker had too much traffic in front to get a shot off. He sent the ball back out and Columbus managed to clear it.
The Crew stormed forward as the match wound down. A half-clearance fell to Harrison Afful just above the box and his lasered shot was heading for the far corner before Blake sprung across the goalmouth to tip it away.
On the ensuing corner kick, Josh Williams won his header but put it outside of the near post.
Splitting the points means these teams remain one point apart in the Eastern Conference standings. The Union are back in action in one week when they welcome Minnesota United to Talen Energy Stadium at 7:30PM ET next Saturday, October 6.
