The rookies did it for Philly.
Keegan Rosenberry and Fabian Herbers — two of the top six picks in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft — each scored the second goals of their careers to lift the Philadelphia Union to a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday night at MAPFRE Stadium.
Both of Herbers' goals have come vs. Columbus with the striker opening the scoring in the 60th minute after getting his initial attempt blocked.
In the 73rd minute, Adam Jahn pounced on a rebound in the box to tie the game on a shot that looked like it may have been cleared off the line before the referee whistled for it to be a goal.
But the Union scored the winner just a minute later after Rosenberry took a great first touch in the box on a Tranquillo Barnetta feed, lifting the Union to their second straight road win.
Crew SC are now 0-3 against the Union this season with two of those losses coming at home.
- CLB: Crew SC "let ourselves down" after allowing late goal in home loss to Union
- PHI: Union head coach Jim Curtin praises rookies after "big-boy" win in Columbus
Box Score
- 60' — PHI — Fabian Herbers
- 73 — COL — Adam Jahn
- 74' — PHI — Keegan Rosenberry (Tranquillo Barnetta)
- Full box score
- Stats
- Watch highlights
Three Things
1. SUPERDRAFT WINNERS: For just the second time this season, all three of the Union’s 2016 first-round picks started together in the same game as Joshua Yaro replaced Ken Tribbett at center back and Herbers an injured Ilsinho on the right wing. To say that turned out well would be an understatement as Herbers and Rosenberry both scored and Yaro used his speed to help slow down the Crew attack. Meanwhile, the top pick in the 2014 SuperDraft — Andre Blake — had another big game for the Union, which included a huge stop on Ethan Finlay in the first half.
2. CHAOTIC FEW MINUTES: Crew SC's only goal of the game was not without some controversy as, after another big Blake save and a wild scrum in the box, Union midfielder Warren Creavalle tried to clear Jahn’s putback off the goal line. It was hard to tell if the ball crossed the line but Crew SC's celebration was short-lived anyway as Rosenberry put the Union back ahead before anyone could even catch their breath.
3. CONTROLLING THE CREW: The Union have only won three games on the road this season but two of them have been in Columbus. Crew SC have struggled to win at home against other teams too, falling to 3-2-8 at MAPFRE Stadium this season. That’s one reason Columbus are currently tied for last in the East while the Union moved into a tie for third place with the New York Red Bulls to solidify their playoff position.
They Said It
“We had a lot of young players on the field tonight that I think grew up and took a big step going forward.”
— Jim Curtin, Philadelphia Union head coach
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