he Philadelphia Union finally broke through in their seventh match of the 2026 season, earning their first win—and first points—with a 2-1 comeback victory over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo.
After a physical and tightly contested first half, Montréal struck first in the 23rd minute through Iván Jaime, putting the Union on the back foot once again. Despite a few promising chances, including a powerful late first-half effort from Jesús Bueno, Philadelphia entered halftime trailing and still searching for answers.
The second half, however, told a completely different story. Goalkeeper Andre Blake played a crucial role early, making a key save to keep the deficit at one and give his side a chance to respond. That opportunity came in the 55th minute, when Milan Iloski delivered a well-placed free kick into the box that Japhet Sery Larsen converted with a glancing header—his first goal for the club—to level the match.
The equalizer sparked momentum for the Union, who began to dictate play with more confidence and urgency. Head coach Bradley Carnell’s substitutions paid immediate dividends, particularly when Ezekiel Alladoh entered the match and quickly contributed to the decisive moment. In the 70th minute, Alladoh found Jesús Bueno making a run, and the midfielder finished to give Philadelphia its first lead of the season.
From there, the Union showed resilience, tightening defensively and holding off Montréal’s late push to secure the long-awaited victory. After six matches without a win, Philadelphia’s second-half turnaround not only delivered three points but also provided a much-needed boost in confidence as they head back home for a rivalry clash against D.C. United.
