If it could happen to the Philadelphia Union it’s starting to feel like it’s going to happen in 2026. The latest saga in their disappointing start to the 2026 campaign was a goalkeeper scoring in second half stoppage time to tie the game at 3-3. This minutes after Nathan Harriel thought his header goal off a brilliant flick from Alejandro Bedoya had won the match.

In the email today:

1. 🐍 Last gasp goalkeeper goal steals points from the Union in Toronto

A stoppage time equalizer from Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran kept the Philadelphia Union from grabbing all three points on the road in a wild six-goal match Wednesday night at BMO Field.

Gavran's goal canceled out a Nathan Harriel header goal off a corner kick in the 89th minute that appeared to give the visitors their second win this month north of the border. With the minimum five minutes of stoppage time already passed and the last remaining seconds of the match ticking down, Alonso Coello sent in a cross off a recycled free kick that found the head of the 6-foot-6 Toronto keeper and he headed it past Andre Blake off his line to secure the 3-3 draw.

The late equalizer was the second comeback of the night for Toronto, which fell behind in the first half on a goal from Milan Iloski deep in first half stoppage time and dug themselves a hole when Danley Jean Jacques deflected a ball off Toronto defender Zane Monlouis into the goal in the 52nd minute. Josh Sargent responded to Jean Jacques' strike four minutes later and Kobe Franklin banged a ball off the post and in eight minutes later to level the score at 2-2.

Another self-inflicted wound by the Toronto back line with substitutes Alejandro Bedoya and Malik Jakupovic bearing down forced a corner kick that led to the third goal of the game. Jesus Bueno perfectly executed the play off the training ground, finding Bedoya at the near post for a flick on that Nathan Harriel then finished with his head. Like they had only 11 days earlier in Montreal with Bueno finishing off a well-executed set play to earn the team's first win of the season, Harriel's goal looked like it was going to cap another victory for the team recovering from an 0-6 start for the first time in club history.

The very late equalizer stole some of the thunder in that Harriel goal celebration but the draw on the road still marked the third straight game with a result and the second straight game scoring first, something that plagued the team in all six of their losses to open the MLS campaign. Though the boys in blue are still near the bottom of the table and have only five points to their name, there were stretches Wednesday night where they were the better team, something that couldn't have been said for most of the first month of the season.

There's still plenty of work to do but a chance to quickly erase the bitter taste of Wednesday's draw with a Saturday match on the road against a Columbus Crew team that has also struggled in the early part of the season.

2. 🧤 Union concede third goalkeeper goal in MLS history

If Philadelphia Union fans were looking for the rarest of reasons to be disappointed in their team Wednesday night, it came in the form of just the third goalkeeper goal in MLS history.

Hamilton, Ontario native Luka Gavran headed in an Alonso Coello cross in the 97th minute to tie the game 3-3 at BMO Field after Nathan Harriel thought he had earned his team their second straight win in Canada this season.

It was a bitter pill to swallow both because of how poorly the season started - six straight losses - and because of how uncommon it is.

The last goalkeeper to score in MLS also did it at BMO Field but it was against Toronto FC and earned the Columbus Crew a point on the road in October 2010. Will Hesmer had the goal in a game where his counterpart, Aston, Pa. native Jon Conway was sent off with a red card.

The first goalkeeper goal in MLS was scored by University of Pennsylvania alum and brief Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who scored on a long free kick for the Red Bulls against Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium in 2008.

3.💧Water Cooler: Your First Move Results

You're Hired to Replace Ernst Tanner. What's Your First Move?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Fire Bradley Carnell (6)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Keep Starting Bueno (1)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Start Cavan Sullivan (10)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Start Malik Jakupovic (1)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Look for a Left-Footed Left Back (6)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Spend Your GAM on a New Striker (13)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Other (1)
38 Votes

via @beehiiv polls

4.❌ Social Post of the Day: Feels Like a Loss

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• An Indiana-based company recently completed the acquisition of United Sports in Downingtown, YSC Sports near King of Prussia and local soccer tournament management company Sideline Soccer Solutions.

• Owen Boyle catches up on players with ties to the Philadelphia Union in his latest DOOPing Overseas column.

• Philadelphia Union Academy grad Jack Jasinski had his first start and scored his first MLS goal for San Jose Earthquakes.

• Greg Oldfield profiles soccer coach and artist Len Bilous for Backyard Pitches.

• On loan Philadelphia Union forward Markus Anderson scored his third goal for Brooklyn FC in their 1-1 draw with Sacramento Republic.

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