Toronto FC (9W-13L-12T, 39 points) concluded their 2026 MLS campaign with a 4-1 road defeat against Philadelphia Union (14W-12L-8T, 50 points) on MLS Decision Day at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening.
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser made seven changes from last Sunday’s road loss in Atlanta for the club’s 2026 season finale. William Yarbrough, Jackson Gilman, Zane Monlouis, Richard Chukwu, Markus Cimermancic, Alejandro Piedrahita and Lewis Morgan came into the starting eleven, replacing Luka Gavran, Benjamín Kuscevic, Nicksoen Gomis, Matheus Pereira, Niklas Dorsch, Theo Corbeanu and Dániel Sallói.
A fast-paced opening half in the City of Brotherly Love saw the ball find the back of the net on five separate occasions, with three goals ultimately counting as the sides headed into the break.
Philadelphia Union appeared to open the scoring in the 11th minute when a team move was finished off by Quinn Sullivan, but the effort was subsequently ruled out for Sullivan’s offside in the build-up following an in-stadium VAR review.
The hosts eventually broke the deadlock in the 28th minute as Cavan Sullivan side-footed Indiana Vassilev’s cutback to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.
Eleven minutes later, Union were awarded a penalty after Cavan Sullivan was fouled by Richard Chukwu inside the box. Quinn Sullivan stepped up from 12 yards and sent his effort high into the net to double the hosts’ advantage in the 41st minute.
Philadelphia appeared to add a third in first-half stoppage time from Frankie Westfield’s powerful effort from distance, but the goal was subsequently disallowed after Quinn Sullivan was deemed to have obstructed William Yarbrough’s line of sight from an offside position.
The Reds responded moments later when Djordje Mihailovic’s in-swinging corner was met by Josh Sargent's emphatic header off the post and into the net to pull one back for Toronto.
The first-half stoppage-time strike marked Sargent’s 10th goal of the 2026 MLS season, with the American striker becoming the first TFC player to reach double-digit goals in an MLS regular season since Alejandro Pozuelo in 2019. Mihailovic’s assist also marked his 10th goal contribution (three goals, seven assists) of the 2026 campaign.
The Union restored their two-goal advantage 13 minutes into the restart, as Quinn Sullivan latched onto Bruno Damiani’s flicked header before laying it off for his younger brother to complete his brace with a composed left-footed finish.
Seeking a second-half spark, the visitors made a triple substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing on Dániel Sallói, Theo Corbeanu and Matheus Pereira for Alejandro Piedrahita, Lewis Morgan and Zane Monlouis.
Philadelphia were awarded their second penalty of Matchday 35 when Matheus Pereira fouled Quinn Sullivan inside the box. Bruno Damiani stepped up and dispatched his spot kick into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 in the 73rd minute.
Niklas Dorsch then replaced Markus Cimermancic in the Reds’ midfield, and Josh Sargent was forced off with a concussion substitute for Emilio Aristizábal four minutes later, before Jonathan Osorio made way for Derrick Etienne Jr. in stoppage time.
The Reds were unable to mount another late MLS comeback, as the 4-1 Decision Day loss brought their 2026 MLS campaign to an end, with Toronto ultimately finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference.
LINEUPS
PHILADELPHIA UNION – Andre Blake (C) (Andrew Rick 46’); Frankie Westfield, Neil Pierre, Nathan Harriel, Kai Wagner; Cavan Sullivan (Malik Jakupovic 90’), Danley Jean Jacques, Jovan Lukic (Ben Bender 77’), Indiana Vassilev; Bruno Damiani (Ezekiel Alladoh 82’), Quinn Sullivan (Alejandro Bedoya 90+6’)
Substitutes Not Used: Geiner Martínez, Jordan Griffin, Jeremy Rafanello, Agustin Anello
TORONTO FC – William Yarbrough; Richie Laryea, Jackson Gilman, Zane Monlouis (Matheus Pereira 62’), Richard Chukwu; Markus Cimermancic (Niklas Dorsch 74’), Jonathan Osorio (C) (Derrick Etienne Jr. 90+4’), Alejandro Piedrahita (Dániel Sallói 61’), Djordje Mihailovic, Lewis Morgan (Theo Corbeanu 62’); Josh Sargent (Emilio Aristizábal 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: Adisa De Rosario, Kobe Franklin, Raheem Edwards
MEDIA NOTES
- Josh Sargent scored his team-leading 10th goal of the 2026 Major League Soccer season for Toronto FC.
- Djordje Mihailovic recorded his 10th goal contribution (three goals, seven assists) of the 2026 MLS season.
- Richie Laryea made his 173rd appearance for Toronto FC, moving into joint-fifth on the Reds’ all-time appearances list.
- Alejandro Piedrahita and William Yarbrough started their first match for TFC.
