Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union travelled south to face Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second regular-season meeting between the clubs this year. A penalty goal from Tai Baribo saw the Union extend their unbeaten streak to seven in all competitions. 

Both teams sported rotated starting lineups since both played their last MLS matches on Wednesday. Philadelphia saw Chris Donovan, Alejandro Bedoya, and Jesus Bueno enter the lineup to give rest to the usual starters. Bedoya had an excellent performance against the LA Galaxy off the bench in the previous matchday, and having the captain’s presence in the starting lineup provided stability. This was Philadelphia’s sixth of nine matches in May, so rotations were anticipated. Ben Bender, who was signed by the Union earlier this month, made his first gameday roster appearance for the club. 

Atlanta’s league-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath, alongside Bartosz Slisz and Mateusz Klich, began the match on the bench after starting for Atlanta in their 1-1 draw at Austin FC on Wednesday. 

Andre Blake is still absent from the Union. Per Bradley Carnell, he is dealing with fluid buildup in his knee, which is a common symptom when you’ve injured a knee as much as he has. His absence in training has allowed academy goalkeeper Jojo Elliot to get experience with the first team. 

First Half

Frankie Westfield started the match at left back, pushing Kai Wagner into a back three with Makhanya and Harriel to match Atlanta’s formation. This change allowed Westfield and Bedoya to push up along the flanks of the pitch and involve themselves in the attack. The formation changed fluidly to fit the flow of the match, with Jovan Lukic falling into the right wing-back position while Atlanta was on the attack. It was very different from what we’ve seen from Bradley Carnell so far this season. 

Both keepers were forced to make big saves in the first twenty minutes. Brad Guzan denied a very impressive strike from Bruno Damiani, and Andrew Rick reached full extension to parry out a powerful volley from Pedro Amador. 

Atlanta’s right back, Brooks Lennon, exited the match in the 20th minute, seemingly feeling something in his leg. Georgia international Saba Lobjanidze entered in his place, giving the five stripes a stronger attacking force on that sideline. Kai Wagner suffocated every chance Lobjanidze had down that sideline. The German may not have had his usual attacking freedom, but he was clinical defensively. 

Frankie Westfield came up big in stoppage time to stop Lobjanidze on the break, coming across the attacker and sliding in to make the tackle in front of Andrew Rick. The play ended up being offside, but it is promising to see the homegrown playing confidently in those kinds of situations. 

Second Half

Tai Baribo entered at halftime for Chris Donovan. Donovan did not have a negative impact on the first half, but his main job was to take 45 minutes off of Baribo’s legs, and he did just that with some hard pressing. 

Olwethu Makhanya had two very important defensive plays early in the first half to shut down Atlanta’s breaks. After the second, he passed to Kai Wagner, who played it over the top to Mikeal Uhre. Uhre chested the ball past a flying Guzan, and his shot was blocked by Luis Abram’s arm. VAR recommended a review, and Chris Penso awarded the penalty. Tai Baribo converted from the spot to increase his total goals on the season to eleven, giving him a two-goal cushion at the top of the Golden Boot race at the time of writing. 

Danley Jean Jacques and Quinn Sullivan entered after the goal, and the formation settled back to the usual 4-2-2-2 that we’re used to seeing. Kai Wagner took the armband with the departure of Alejandro Bedoya. The Union, as expected, was more comfortable in its usual formation. Atlanta responded by bringing on Latte Lath and Edwin Mosquera to try and shake things up in their attack. 

Wagner and Emmanuel Latte Lath collided heads in the box while going for a 50/50 ball, and Wagner went down quickly with a bleeding head. Play was halted for a few minutes, and both teams played with ten men until Wagner was fit to return. Wagner received another hard challenge, this time from Saba Lobjanidze, and ended up receiving a yellow card for it. 

Due to the VAR check and Wagner’s head injury, the fourth official added 9 minutes of stoppage time. The Union chose to take their time and slow play through extra time. Jakob Glesbes entered for Mikeal Uhre to see out the end of the match. Andrew Rick continued his heroics to deny Atlanta’s Derrick Williams late in stoppage. 

Bradley Carnell’s side leaves Atlanta with another gritty, hard-fought victory in the books. 

 Three Points:

•  Andrew Rick is in the middle of the most important month of his career so far. He has shown great improvement in his confidence off his line and shot-stopping ability. There is an argument to be made for him to be loaned to another team, where he will be guaranteed starting minutes every week, but it may be wiser to try and keep him home so that he can receive the torch from Andre Blake if these knee injuries become too much. 
• Nate Harriel has adjusted well to his new role at center back. His speed, agility, and ball-playing ability have allowed him to slot into that area of need. He’s still an option at every other defensive position when needed. The system has allowed him to attack when necessary, and he is quick enough to recover when he is caught out. He had a huge block in the 80th minute to stop Latte Lath. 
• Columbus and Cincinnati’s match ended in a draw, and with the Union’s win, the boys in blue moved into a tie for first in the East with Cincinnati. Philadelphia is ahead on goal differential. 

Lineups

Philadelphia

Andrew Rick, Kai Wagner, Olwethu Makhanya, Nate Harriel, Frankie Westfield, Jesus Bueno (Indiana Vassilev– 71’), Jovan Lukic, Chris Donovan (Tai Baribo– 46’), Alejandro Bedoya (Danley Jean Jacques– 60’), Bruno Damiani (Quinn Sullivan– 60’), Mikeal Uhre (Jakob Glesnes– 90+’)

Unused subs: Oliver Semmle, Cavan Sullivan, Jeremy Rafanello, Ben Bender 

Atlanta

Brad Guzan, Pedro Amador (Bartosz Slicz– 86’), Luis Abram, Derrick Williams, Matthew Edwards, Brooks Lennon (Saba Lobjanidze– 20’), Jay Fortune, Tristan Muyumba (Edwin Mosquera– 67’), Aleksey Miranchuk, Miguel Almiron, Jamal Thiare (Emmanuel Latte Lath– 67’)

Unused Subs: Josh Cohen, Noah Cobb, Ronald Hernandez, Mateusz Klich, Will Reilly 

Scoring Summary:

PHI: Baribo– 59’ (Penalty)

Discipline Summary:

PHI: Bedoya– 21’

PHI: Damiani– 49’

ATL: Abram– 57’

PHI: Wagner– 89’

ATL: Mosquera– 90+’

Referee: Chris Penso