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Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
The long wait to win a game in Toronto ended last night and it took a fortuitous deflected goal - Matt McClain called it a ricochet banger - to do it. Kai Wagner, one of the few consistent bright points on the evening for a Union side showing the wear and tear of a grueling month delivered the smash and grab winner late. It marked the latest the team has ever come back from a losing position to win a game and despite the frustration leading up to it continues a somewhat improbable run of form for the Union. This game had “trap” written all over it but ended in three more points for the Supporters’ Shield leaders.
In the email today:
1. 🪜 Wagner’s heroics, good fortune help Union storm to late 2-1 win at Toronto
2. 🪤 Social Post of the Day: Trap Sprung
3. 💧Water Cooler: Player Ratings Poll
4. 🔗 Link Roundup
1. 🪜 Wagner’s heroics, good fortune help Union storm to late 2-1 win at Toronto
By Amit Maliik
After going down in the 75th minute at BMO Field, the Union dug deep to find two goals in six minutes to stun Toronto, keyed by a special night from left back Kai Wagner.
Wagner’s superb service was the story of the night, as was the Union’s fight, and the German’s pinpoint assist to Nathan Harriel on the equalizer and “fortune-favors-the-bold” deflected strike from the distance for the stoppage-time winner secured a rousing three points to stay atop the table.
The Union extended their unbeaten streak to eight games with six wins and two draws, and finished the night with 33 points, good for a three point lead over Nashville and Cincinnati.
Toronto finished the game in 14th place in the conference and moved to 3-5-9.
The Union brought an inspired effort after the late collapse at home on Saturday against Inter Miami, and despite getting sucker punched for a late Toronto lead out of very little, the Union’s industriousness and spirit more than earned the comeback.
Sometimes you spring the trap and still come out on top #DOOP
— Eric Frysinger (@efrysinger13.bsky.social)2025-05-29T01:39:04.460Z
3. 💧 Water Cooler: Players Ratings Poll
Weigh in on the performances and share your reactions to last night’s win in Toronto in our Player Ratings Poll.
And results/responses from the Inter Miami draw:
“Messi is cagey and won a softish foul, too easy. Then we got frantic and inexperience bit on last goal. It was the end all hands on deck moment and even either Kai being fouled, the focus should have been on a good clearance high up or out of play. Maybe Blake would have stopped one if those, maybe Glavinovich’s savvy would have helped. Not dissing Rick or others though. Watched all those Barca players win games for decades. The tie improves over the losses to Messi and co.”
“Atmosphere was incredible. Outcome was disappointing but mainly because we were clearly the dominant team.”
“Wagner taking a boot to the head with no call leading to a goal.”

4. 🔗 Link Roundup
Andrew Rick, David Vazquez and CJ Olney have all been called up to the U.S. Under-19 team.
Tickets starting at $58 to see Atlas play the Union in a friendly on June 7?
Voting has opened for the MLS All-Star Game, which somehow is still a thing that exists in 2025.
Philadelphia Union II lost for the first time this season in a Sunday matinee against Inter Miami II.
West Chester United is off to an unbeaten start four games into the USL League Two season after a 2-0 win over Reading United on Tuesday.
Kyle Almoney recapped the win in Toronto that snapped a streak dating all the way back to 2019.
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