Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union

A new-look Philadelphia Union (in more ways than one) took the pitch in Orlando to open the 2025 MLS season. Clad in their road “Easter Egg” uniforms, the Boys in Blue (and yellow) took all three points from the 2024 Eastern Conference finalists. The goalkeeper looked strong while the defense was solid enough. The midfield held its own, and the 10 and strikers opened their 2025 scoring accounts.

Here are the ratings.

Player Ratings

GK Andre Blake – 6

A solid effort from a healthy Blake hopefully sets the tone for the beginning of the season. When called upon, Blake came up with some big saves. It is hard to fault Blake for the two goals from new Orlando striker Marco Pašalić. He looked confident snatching balls out of the air on corners and dealt with most crosses successfully. However, his long clearances were not very accurate on the night. 

LB Kai Wagner – 7

Wagner reminded us why he is one of most lethal MLS left backs as the all-time assist leader in Union history notched one more. It was his only touch in Orlando’s box on the night, but the German made sure it counted as he gathered a deflected Quinn Sullivan pass and slotted nicely behind the Orlando back line for an easy Tai Baribo tap-in. Defensively, a solid effort from the German as he had some timely clearances.

CB Jakob Glesnes – 6

Glesnes looked more like the 2023 version of himself rather than the 2024 edition as he looks to have a bounce-back season. Paired with newcomer Olwethu Makhanya, his soccer IQ and maturity were going to be needed to settle a new (and younger) backline. Glesnes had some nice blocks and a couple of timely clearances. Never the speediest back, more than ever Glesnes will need to rely on his smarts and positional awareness to get him through the season.

CB Olwethu Makhanya – 7

One half of the backline’s new right side, Makhanya had an impressive debut, particularly in the air as he headed six balls clear. Along with eight other clearances, he more than held his own. The twenty-year old South African did not look like he was playing in his first MLS match.

RB Frankie Westfield – 7

The other newcomer on the backline, Westfield had a decent defensive debut. Playing in his first ever first-team match, the nineteen-year old looked like he belonged on the field. Westfield did it all – clearing balls off the line, making blocks and clearances when needed. But it was on offense that he was noticeably involved, racing up the right side on overlapping runs with Dániel Gazdag, leading to his first MLS assist on the Union’s fourth and final goal.

DM Danley Jean-Jacques – 7

It is going to be hard to replace El Brujo. Perhaps so hard that the Union decided a formation change was in order, switching to a midfield box rather than the formerly ubiquitous diamond. Danley played the left pivot or defensive midfield, and played it well. He tracked back on defense, and did well to clear balls on the ground and in the air. Danley complemented Wagner and Sullivan nicely on the left side of the field. 

DM Jovan Lukić – 5

Another newcomer playing his first Union (and MLS) match, Lukić was one of the few players who appeared to struggle on the night. While hardly a poor game from the Serb, he appeared to be out of position a few times and more concerning, he did not win one tackle on the night. 

AM Quinn Sullivan – 8

The older Sullivan brother, only twenty years of age himself, was tasked with playing on the left and acquitted himself well. It was a lovely cross from twenty-five yards out on the left to the right goal post that found Gazdag charging the net and scoring the Union’s second goal. It was also Sullivan’s pass that was deflected to Wagner leading to the first goal on the night.

AM Dániel Gazdag – 8

Statistically, it was not a solid night for Gazdag. But statistics do not tell the full story. As usual, he played the defensive role that the Union requires of all its attacking players, and he helped cover for Lukić on the night. But it was on offense, with his pressing and overlapping runs up the right, where he kept Orlando off-balance. The all-time leading scorer for the Union, Gazdag added one more (from open play!) on the night, meeting Sullivan’s cross to one-time it into the back of the net.  

FWD Tai Baribo – 8

Baribo continued his scoring ways to open the 2025 season, netting a brace and continuously pressing the Orlando backline. His situational awareness is terrific – knowing where to be to meet Wagner’s cross on the first goal, and continuing his run down the right side to position himself perfectly for Westfield’s pass on the second. Baribo had two shots on target and scored both times.  

FWD Mikkel Uhre – 7

Being asked to match the offensive play of Sullivan, Gazdag, and Baribo on the night would prove to be a difficult task as the other three attackers all played a terrific match. But Uhre did what he was supposed to do – press – and it paid off as an Orlando turnover gave him the ball about twenty yards out. Uhre nailed a one-time shot that led to the Union’s third goal, and as it would turn out, the difference-maker on the night.

Substitutes:

(71’) Alejandro Bedoya – 6

Brought on for Uhre, Bedoya made the most of his nineteen minutes (plus injury time), having the same number of touches in the Orlando box as Uhre (one). Won the majority of his tackles and duels.

(71′) Chris Donovan – 5

A surprising substitute, Donovan did not make the most of his minutes on the field, eschewing a left-footed shot when he was open that could have forced a nice save (or a goal?).

(82’) Glavinovich – n/a

Called upon to replace Gazdag with some defense, he slotted in as the third centerback. 

(88’) Olivier Mbaizo – n/a

Mbaizo started the 2025 season exactly the same way he ended the 2024 season – as an 88′ substitute.

Player of the Match – Tai Baribo

A brace to start off the 2025 season. Here’s hoping this portends well for the future. 

What’s Next…

The Union head north to kick off its home field season on Saturday, March 1, to face Cincinnati at Subaru Park. 7:30 pm on Apple TV.