Philadelphia Union’s ambitions for a fifth straight MLS home win met a dramatic twist Saturday night as Toronto FC, fielding fresh faces and a fighting spirit, clawed back in injury time to secure a 1-1 draw at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. For the Union, who had entered the weekend perched atop the Major League Soccer standings and narrowly ahead of FC Cincinnati in the Supporters’ Shield race, it was a night that started with promise but ended with a dose of frustration.
The match, which kicked off at 7:30 pm ET on August 9, 2025, saw Philadelphia Union riding high after their recent 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Rapids. With home fans in full voice and a four-match winning streak at Subaru Park on the line, the Union wasted little time asserting themselves. Just four minutes in, Israeli international Tai Baribo sparked a slick counterattack after Toronto’s Richie Laryea lost possession. Baribo found Indiana Vassilev, who left Theo Corbeanu in his wake before coolly slotting a low shot past Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran for his third goal of the season. The early strike had the home crowd buzzing and seemed to set the tone for another dominant Union performance.
But Toronto FC, languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and coming off a bye week after consecutive defeats to Charlotte FC (2-0) and Nashville SC (1-0), refused to wilt. Despite missing several key players—Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis, and Nicksoen Gomis were all sidelined with lower-body injuries, Raoul Petretta was out with a head injury, and Ola Brynhildsen struggled with an ankle problem—Toronto’s bench and new additions stepped up. Head coach John Herdman, who had shuffled his lineup by bringing in Jonathan Osorio for Kosi Thompson, watched as his side slowly grew into the contest.
One of the biggest stories of the night was the debut of Malik Henry, the 23-year-old midfielder from Hamilton, Ontario, who signed his first-team contract earlier in the day. Henry’s impact would prove decisive. Another headline grabber was Djordje Mihailovic, Toronto’s high-profile designated player, acquired just two days prior from the Colorado Rapids in a transfer that could reportedly cost TFC up to $9 million. With just one training session under his belt, Mihailovic started up front, initially operating on the left behind Brynhildsen before shifting into a more central playmaking role as the match wore on.
Philadelphia looked to double their advantage in the second half, and their best chance came in the 56th minute. Defender Kai Wagner, whose set-piece deliveries troubled Toronto all evening, whipped in a dangerous free kick. After a goalmouth scramble, Baribo appeared to have headed home his second of the night. The Union celebrated—briefly. A lengthy video review, however, ruled the goal offside, leaving Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell scratching his head. "That just sways the momentum of the game. It just kills something in us. And I felt we struggled to deal with that," Carnell admitted after reviewing the play multiple times.
Toronto, emboldened by the reprieve, pressed for an equalizer. Mihailovic nearly set up Brynhildsen in the 26th minute with a clever pass, but the Union defense snuffed out the threat. The visitors’ best chance before the dramatic finish came in the 83rd minute, when Mihailovic’s corner found Kevin Long, whose powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Andre Blake. Defender Nathan Harriel reacted quickly to clear the danger, keeping the Union ahead as tension mounted inside Subaru Park.
Tempers flared in the 77th minute after Union defender Olwethu Makhanya fired a shot at Gavran following a whistle. Both Makhanya and Toronto’s Deandre Kerr received yellow cards amid the heated exchange. The physicality underscored the stakes, with Philadelphia desperate to protect their lead and Toronto pushing for a lifeline.
With ten minutes of injury time added, the drama was far from over. In the 91st minute, Mihailovic orchestrated a move that would change the narrative. He found Henry in space on the right flank, and the young Canadian floated a perfect cross into the box. Kerr, showing both timing and tenacity, out-jumped Jakob Glesnes and directed a downward header that bounced past Blake and into the net for his third goal of the season. The Toronto bench erupted, and the Union faithful were left in stunned silence. "Another really gutsy performance," said Toronto coach Robin Fraser. "That's the thing I really admire about this team. They just don't really quit."
Kerr’s late heroics marked Toronto’s first road result against Philadelphia since March 2019 and showcased the impact of their new signings. Mihailovic, who also took corners and played a full-blooded two-way game, came off in the 96th minute to a warm reception from his teammates. Fraser was full of praise: "I thought he was really good for us. And then the other side of it, we had to dig in and fight today. And we see that Djordje is also a fighter. And he ran and defended and really worked hard."
For Philadelphia, the night was a missed opportunity. Despite outshooting Toronto 11-9 and matching them with four shots on target, the Union couldn’t find the decisive second goal. Milan Iloski, a new signing from Denmark’s FC Nordsjælland, made his debut off the bench in the 67th minute but couldn’t provide the breakthrough. The Union were also without Ben Bender (calf strain) and Ian Glavinovich (knee issue), while Toronto’s goalkeeper Luka Gavran, filling in for the concussed Sean Johnson, delivered a composed performance in just his second league start.
The result leaves Philadelphia still atop the standings, but their margin over FC Cincinnati has narrowed to just a single point. Toronto, meanwhile, improved to 5-13-7 on the season and will look to build on this momentum when they host the Columbus Crew next Saturday. Philadelphia’s next test comes quickly, as they welcome the New York Red Bulls for a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, August 13.
In a match that had everything—early goals, VAR drama, debutants making immediate impacts, and a stoppage-time equalizer—both teams left Subaru Park with plenty to ponder. Philadelphia’s home streak may have ended, but the race for the Supporters’ Shield is heating up. Toronto, battered but unbowed, proved they still have some fight left in them—and perhaps, with their new recruits, a spark for the season’s final stretch.
