On a muggy Saturday night at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC battled to a dramatic 1-1 draw, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. The match, played on August 9, 2025, was a showcase of grit, tactical discipline, and late-game heroics, with both teams snatching a point that could prove crucial in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.
Philadelphia, riding high atop the standings and leading the Supporters' Shield race, wasted no time asserting themselves. From the opening moments, the Union pressed aggressively, eager to set the tone in front of their raucous home supporters. Their intent paid off almost immediately. In just the fourth minute, midfielder Indiana Vassilev capped off a flowing seven-player sequence, finding himself one-on-one with Toronto’s backup keeper Luka Gavran. Vassilev coolly slotted the ball home after a perfectly weighted pass from Tai Baribo, notching his second goal of the season and giving Baribo his third assist.
"It was a total team effort," Vassilev later said, beaming alongside teammates during the post-goal celebration. The move was direct, methodical, and emblematic of Philadelphia’s attacking philosophy under head coach Bradley Carnell.
Toronto, however, refused to be rattled by the early setback. The visitors, who have struggled for consistency all season, showed flashes of their attacking potential. In the 20th minute, new acquisition Djordje Mihailovic—making his club debut after a record transfer from the Colorado Rapids—broke down the left flank, forcing Union centerback Jakob Glesnes into a crucial tackle that resulted in a corner. Philadelphia’s defense, anchored by the ever-reliable Andre Blake, managed to clear the danger.
The first half was not without controversy. In the 28th minute, Glesnes, known for his aggressive style, was shown a yellow card for a late challenge. The booking means he’ll miss Philadelphia’s next MLS match due to yellow card accumulation, a blow for a backline that has been one of the league’s best. The Union, who have lost only once at home all season—a March defeat to Nashville—went into halftime with a slender 1-0 lead, having weathered a few Toronto surges and a near-miss from Mihailovic.
Toronto’s Luka Gavran, making his first start of the season in goal, kept the Reds within touching distance. The young keeper made three crucial saves, including a diving stop to deny Danley Jean Jacques late in the second half. "I just wanted to give the team a chance," Gavran said, reflecting on his performance. On the opposite end, Andre Blake—three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year—was equally impressive, producing a lightning-quick reaction save to deny Kevin Long’s one-timer off a corner in the 83rd minute.
The second half saw both coaches shuffle their decks. For Philadelphia, Milan Iloski, the club’s newest signing, made his much-anticipated debut in the 67th minute, coming on alongside Mikael Uhre, who recently bagged a brace off the bench against Colorado. The duo replaced Bruno Damiani and Tai Baribo, adding fresh legs and attacking impetus as the Union sought to double their advantage.
Philadelphia thought they’d found their insurance goal in the 55th minute when Baribo finished off a chaotic sequence in the box. The celebrations, however, were short-lived as the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside—a decision confirmed after a brief review. The Union continued to press, with Danley Jean Jacques and Quinn Sullivan probing Toronto’s backline, but Gavran remained steadfast.
As the clock ticked down, tensions mounted. The match, always chippy between these Eastern Conference rivals, seemed destined to end 1-0. But Toronto, desperate for a result, made a pair of bold substitutions in the 76th minute. Deandre Kerr replaced Ola Brynhildsen up front, while rookie Malik Henry entered the midfield for his third MLS appearance. The moves would prove inspired.
With ten minutes of stoppage time added—a reflection of the match’s physicality and a handful of second-half delays—Toronto launched one last assault. In the first minute of added time, Malik Henry, showing composure beyond his years, whipped a low cross into the box. Kerr, timing his run to perfection, arrived at the back post and tapped home the equalizer for his third goal of the season. The Toronto bench erupted, and the Union faithful fell silent.
"It feels great to help the team get a result," Kerr said after the match. The goal was Henry’s first MLS assist, a memorable moment for the rookie. For Toronto, the draw snapped a string of disappointing results and kept alive their hopes of climbing out of the Eastern Conference basement.
Despite the late heartbreak, Philadelphia’s home record now stands at an impressive 10-1-4, with only that lone defeat to Nashville marring an otherwise dominant run at Subaru Park. The Union have not lost to Toronto at home since March 2019, and while they’ll rue the missed opportunity to secure all three points, there’s little time to dwell. Next up are two crucial rivalry matches against the New York Red Bulls, including a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal berth on the line on August 13.
Toronto, meanwhile, will return to BMO Field to host the Columbus Crew on August 16, aiming to build on the momentum from their late equalizer. The Reds still lead the all-time series against Philadelphia 14-12-9, though they haven’t tasted victory in Chester in over six years.
Both sides walk away with reasons for optimism. Philadelphia showcased their depth, with new signings bedding in and veterans like Blake and Glesnes anchoring the defense. Toronto, rejuvenated by Mihailovic’s arrival and Kerr’s clutch finishing, proved they can hang with the league’s elite—even if only for a night.
As fans streamed out of Subaru Park, the sense lingered that this was more than just a routine draw. It was a statement from two teams at different points in their journey, each with eyes on a bigger prize as the MLS season heads into its decisive stretch. The drama isn’t over yet—expect more fireworks when these teams next meet.
