Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Who: Philadelphia Union vs Atlanta United FC
What: MLS Regular Season, Matchday 9
Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
When: Saturday, April 19, 7:30 PM EST
Watch: Apple TV MLS Season Pass
Whistle: Allen Chapman (Ref), Jason White (AR1), Mike Nickerson (AR2), Benjamin Meyer (4th), Shawn Tehini (VAR), Robert Schaap (AVAR)
Scouting Report: Atlanta United FC
Coming off a draw and a loss, a frustrated Atlanta United side will be eager to get back on track — and they’ll have to do it on the road. Subaru Park has historically been a tough venue for the 5-Stripes, with their last win in Chester dating all the way back to 2018.
To turn things around, Atlanta will need to match the Union’s intensity right from the opening whistle and dictate the tempo through the midfield. Doing so could not only snap their recent winless run but also end their long-standing struggles at Subaru Park.
Despite recent results, there have been encouraging signs. Atlanta has consistently created chances in the final third, generating opportunities against both FC Dallas and New England. However, they’ve come away with just one goal and one point from those two matches. The key now is finishing. The attack needs to be more clinical — especially early. So far this season, only two of the team’s 11 goals have come in the first 30 minutes of a match.
Injury Report: Edwin Mosquera (injured), Derrick Williams (injured)
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
After a hot start to the season, the Union have cooled off, picking up just one point from their last three matches. Still, Head Coach Bradley Carnell remains confident in his squad.
“One thing in this league, it’s a long season—you can start strong, hit a cold patch, but it’s all about consistency in earning points and delivering performances,” Carnell said. “I think we’ve brought the performances. We just need one or two more points in the bank right now, and again, we’ll be right there.”
The Union will need to continue navigating life without Daniel Gazdag, working to rediscover their rhythm in the final third. With the Hungarian playmaker gone, others are being asked to step into bigger roles as the team searches for a steady attacking identity.
Saturday’s matchup presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Union to get back on track. While results haven’t fallen their way lately, the underlying performances remain solid—Carnell’s side just needs to find that clinical edge to turn effort into results.
Injury Report: N/A
Matchup to Watch: Glesnes & Co. vs Miguel Almirón
There’s been a lack of consistency at the back, and that instability leaves way too much room for dangerous moments. A player like Almirón, who thrives in transition and knows exactly how to exploit space, could really make the Union suffer. If the timing is right and the passes fall into place, it wouldn’t take much for him to break through and punish those gaps.
Player to Watch: Mikael Uhre
Say what you want about Uhre, but with Gazdag out, this might be the perfect chance for him to step into a different role. He’s not exactly known for quick, intricate play — but if he drops deeper to help link things up, it could create the kind of space someone like Tai Baribo can really take advantage of.
Call me crazy, but at this point, what do we have to lose? The attack’s already looked disjointed. Maybe a little shake-up in positioning is exactly what it needs.
Prediction: Union 2 – 0 Atlanta United FC
Put in a special request to the Easter Bunny for a basket full of Doops — let’s see if he delivers.
I’m scared to wonder if Glesnes has the yips in Subaru Park now.
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We played above average on our away games last year, but we all witnessed our worst home record ever in Chester in ’24. How much of that still weighs on Jacob’s mind right now?
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Part of it comes down to just how high both Jim last year and Bradley this year have Glesnes playing (or sometimes how wide he was playing in ’24). It’s fun to see him up there every now and then, but he is stranding Makhanya on an island (Elliott suffered greatly from this last year – it wasn’t his fault Jack was stuck trying to stop the charge alone).
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I don’t mind his forays, but it has to be reigned in some to keep him from being stuck to high so often. I mean, isn’t that why we have two DM’s?
Mismanagement and No chemistry ! The new offense minus Gazdag looked completely lost last week. Uhres speed complimented Baribos positioning and finishing skills . Gazdag created space for both forwards . The team failed last year because the defense had slipped dramatically not the offense. Vassilev is not a playmaker or a scoring threat. He could not even keep his job at St. Louis. The Damiani acquisition was a bad move and wasted money by Tanner and Company. The 3 million they paid for him the Union could have been used to pick up a quality another Centerback and they could have renegotiaded Gazdags contract. Glesnes is too slow for Carnells system. McHanya is too green.
A “selling team” is what we are. Aaronson, McGlynn, and now Gazdag. All for cash that goes to the bottom line of the club. Selling Gazdag did it for me. I will not buy another ticket to a game until we start investing in the club, rather than using it as a money-making enterprise.