Union is back in the win column after a 3-0 win against Atlanta United: “We put ourselves in a window to win the game tonight, and we took our chances.”

After three straight matches without a win and being held scoreless in two, Bradley Carnell’s Philadelphia Union are back in the win column after a 3-0 victory over Atlanta United at home on Saturday Night.

The clean sheet win, the blue and gold’s third of that nature this season, moves Union’s 2025 record to 5W-1D-3L for a total of 16 points. After this weekend’s action, they are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings and four points off the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.

“To limit them and mitigate them the way we did, for sure, they got some chances later on, but we managed to stay disciplined, aggressive, and we kind of made the game what we wanted it to be. We put in a scrap when we needed to and made it pretty when we needed to, so I really enjoyed the performance tonight and I’m really proud of the boys.” – Bradley Carnell on Union’s 3-0 win

Starting XI

Bradley Carnell made a few changes to his team on Saturday night – some forced, and some strategically planned.

Andre Blake was good enough to start after missing the previous two games due to injury, which was a big boost to the squad. With Ian Glavinovich absent from the backline, Carnell opted for Nate Harriel as the second Center Back next to Glesnes, with Westfield and Wagner as the outside backs.

Danley and Lukic took their normal spots in the midfield, as did Quinn Sullivan, a little higher up the pitch. Indiana Vassilev earned his 2nd consecutive start next to Sullivan since Daniel Gazdag’s departure to Columbus, and Bruno Damiani and Mikael Uhre got the nod to start over Tai Baribo up top.

“The first 45 minutes we set the platform for the rest of the game, he [Uhre] held up the play, brought others into the game, he was a goal threat – 3 big, big actions in the first half, one hits the cross bar with his left foot – so 3 big actions and he could have contributed with a goal as well. So I’m really happy and like I say, we have to believe in each other, whether we start, whether we don’t start, It’s my job to keep the harmony within the group because obviously there’s expectations to start” – Bradley Carnell on the decision to start Mikael Uhre over Tai Baribo

Sullivan Scores First of the Season

Union started the game on the front foot and were looking to strike early. 15 minutes in, Mikael Uhre forced Brad Guzman into a save after flying down the left side of the pitch and cutting back to his right for a shot on net. Union collected the rebound from Guzan and eventually found Uhre for another attempt on net, but his shot skittered wide.

Just about 11 minutes after the duo of chances from Uhre, Quinn Sullivan put the Union on top with his first goal of the 2025 season after Atlanta United failed to clear their defensive zone.

After the ball pin-balled around the box and a failed clearance fell directly in his path, Quinn Sullivan chested the botched defensive header down and hit it with his right foot on the volley, placing the shot in the corner of the net and beating Brad Guzan to his left side in the 27th minute.

The goal was Quinn Sullivan’s first since he scored on Decision Day of last season against FC Cincinnati.

“Really happy for Quinn, there’s been a lot of pressure building on him to try and perform in terms of stepping up to the standard, and he’s done that. I’ve told him the whole week – just be you, you continue to be you, and you’ll be just fine – so I’m glad he could capitalize today with a goal” – Bradley Carnell on Quinn Sullivan’s performance against Atlanta United

Crossbar keeps Uhre from Extending Union’s Lead

Almost immediately off the restart, Union almost caught Atlanta snoozing when they rushed forward with the ball in transition after Danley Jean-Jacques forced a turnover in Union’s defensive zone and carried the ball through the midfield and into Atlanta’s side of the pitch with pace.

An Atlanta defender took a fall, creating a 4-on-3 for the Union as they approached Atlanta’s box. This created space for Mikael Uhre to receive a pass inside the penalty area. Uhre collected the ball to Guzan’s left, faked a shot, and cut back to his right, and rang the crossbar with his attempt to extend Union’s lead.

Danley Doubles Union’s Lead With First MLS Goal

Both Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques had a really active first half for the Union, turning Atlanta over a number of times and springing the Union on transition with quick and direct passes. It felt like only a matter of time before Lukic and Danley’s presence in the midfield would directly lead to a goal for the Blue and Gold, and it only took a few minutes into the 2nd half for that to come to fruition.

In the 50th minute, Jovan Lukic put pressure on an Atlanta player trying to carry the ball out of their own defensive zone. Kai Wagner saw the danger Atlanta was under and stepped in to force them into a turnover in their own half, immediately playing the ball towards Bruno Damiani at the top of Atlanta’s 18.

Damiani, with a defender on his back, one-touched the ball over to Mikael Uhre, who waited for Danley to make the overlapping run to his left. Uhre played the ball into Danley’s path, leading him into the penalty area for a chance on net. Danley, with his first touch, put the ball between Brad Guzan’s 5-hole and extended Union’s lead.

The goal from Danley Jean-Jacques was his first of the season and the first of his Philadelphia Union career. The assist from Mikael Uhre was his 1st of the season.

“In the first half we told the guys, I think we had 8 moments where we win the ball in transition and give it away straight away, so the ability to connect in transition is massive and the way we scored Danley’s goal as well, connecting in transition, 2-3 passes and now we make a big, big play and score the second goal. Credit to the group, I’m really proud of them,” – Bradley Carnell on Danley’s goal

Lukic sent off for 2nd Yellow

In the 56th minute, a few moments following Danley’s goal, Jovan Lukic was shown a second yellow card and sent off after delaying a restart on an Atlanta United free kick.

Lukic has been really great for the Union since arriving in Philadelphia and has barely put a foot wrong for the Blue and Gold, but he’ll know his sending off was avoidable on Saturday with 2 unnecessary yellow cards, and will now miss out next Saturday against DC United.

Blake Save Keeps Atlanta Scoreless

After controlling much of the action to that point, Lukic’s sending off presented Atlanta with an opportunity to claw their way back into the game down 2-0.

Andre Blake’s number was called in the 77th minute when a left-footed cross was sent into the penalty area from Andre Blake’s right side. Aleksey Miranchuk rose up to head to ball over Jakob Glesnes and looked to be labeled for the far corner, but Andre Blake made a spectacular diving save, and Kai Wagner cleared the ball to safety.

“I think when it’s 11 vs 11, I think we nullified and mitigated exactly what we were trying to do in the game plan, and it really worked according to how it unfolded. When they went a man up they’re going to start creating an overload here and there, and then you need people to big, big plays – blocking crosses from Lennon, stopping supply – which we couldn’t do all night -, and then it’s duels in the box and winning your header and if you don’t, then you need a goalkeeper…”

“So you need a lot of things and a lot of commitment for things to fall into place for you to keep that clean sheet, and everyone dug real deep tonight.” – Bradley Carnell on beating Atlanta United

Baribo Bags League Leading 7th Goal Off Bench

After starting on the bench on Saturday night, Tai Baribo came into the game in the 74th minute with Union up 2 goals but down a man.

In the 84th minute, a Quinn Sullivan cross from Brad Guzan’s left met the head of Tai Baribo, who let the ball skip off the top of his head and into the far corner, giving Union a 3-0 lead and sealing all 3 points.

The goal from Baribo was his league-leading 7th of the season.

“Big night for us tonight. The guys had to dig deep there at the end when Jovan [Lukic] gets a red card and we have to shift the formation and everything, but to get to that point as a group we had to commit to exactly what we wanted to do against a really talented Atlanta team that has some real weapons and dangers and threats in all areas of the field” – Bradley Carnell on beating Atlanta United