(Photo credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images)

Max Arfsten scored in the fifth minute and Patrick Schulte made three saves to help the Columbus Crew defeat the visiting Philadelphia Union 2-0 on Saturday.

After Arfsten staked the Crew (3-4-3, 12 points) to the lead, an own goal by Union defender Nathan Harriel in the third minute of first-half stoppage time provided the final margin.

The Union (1-7-2, 5 points) had a three-match point streak (1-0-2) stopped while the Crew is 3-1-1 in the past five.

Schulte recorded his second shutout of the season, the other coming March 7 in a 0-0 tie with the Chicago Fire.

The first half began and ended calamitously for the Union, which saw midfielder Jesus Bueno leave with a leg injury sustained at the onset of the sequence leading to the second goal.

Arfsten opened the scoring with the sixth goal contribution (three goals, three assists) in the past six matches for the U.S. World Cup hopeful.

Dylan Chambost sent a long ball out of the back which glanced off Union defender Philippe Ndinga to Arfsten down the right flank and he broke free for the score.

Just over a minute later, Arfsten had another break but Andre Blake made the save.

It wasn't all in favor of the Crew because 10 minutes later, the Union had numbers heading into the final third and Danley Jean Jacques passed to Milan Iloski on his right but his shot pinged the left post.

Philadelphia nearly made it to the half with a one-goal deficit but a potential scoring opportunity quickly turned the other way.

The Union was on the attack after a turnover but a slide tackle by Seko Bangoura dispossessed Bueno, who stayed down with an injury, and the Crew created a counter with Arfsten once again on the run on the right flank before sending a cross to the box.

Harriel's clearing attempt went off a sliding Blake and the rebound hit Harriel and went into the goal.

Crew defender Mo Farsi entered for Arfsten in the 81st minute for his first appearance since July 6, 2025, after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

Union defender Japhet Sery Larsen was red-carded in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity.

--Field Level Media