Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
Despite a historic attacking performance and a first-half hat trick from Milan Iloski, the Philadelphia Union fell 6-4 to Inter Miami CF in a wild, record-setting match on Sunday night. The two sides combined for eight first-half goals, the most ever scored in the opening half of an MLS match, as the Union repeatedly fought back before Miami pulled away late behind a second-half brace from Luis Suárez and a stoppage-time goal from Rodrigo De Paul.
First Half
Philadelphia could not have asked for a better start, jumping ahead just four minutes into the match when Iloski finished off a move created by Frankie Westfield and Cavan Sullivan. The Union doubled their advantage in the 10th minute after Iloski converted from the penalty spot, stunning the home crowd with a 2-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.
Inter Miami quickly responded through Germán Berterame in the 13th minute before the Union restored their two-goal cushion when Bruno Damiani buried his first regular season goal for Philadelphia in the 20th minute. But Miami’s star-studded attack eventually took control of the frantic half. Suárez and Berterame each found the net as Miami scored three consecutive goals, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead before halftime.
The Union refused to fold, though, and continued to generate chances in transition. Deep into stoppage time, Iloski completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after Philadelphia earned another crucial foul in the box. His third goal of the night leveled the match at 4-4 heading into halftime, capping one of the most chaotic and entertaining halves in league history.
Second Half
After the break, both teams finally slowed the relentless scoring pace, though the match remained wide open. Miami nearly regained the lead early in the second half when Ian Fray struck the post, while Andre Blake was forced into several key saves to keep Philadelphia level.
Head Coach Bradley Carnell turned to his bench throughout the half, bringing on Alejandro Bedoya, Jeremy Rafanello, and Ezekiel Alladoh in search of another breakthrough. Philadelphia created a handful of late opportunities, including headers from Bedoya and Damiani, but could not capitalize.
Miami eventually found the decisive moment in the 81st minute when Suárez finished from close range after an initial save from Blake. Philadelphia pushed forward searching for another equalizer, but De Paul sealed the result in stoppage time with Miami’s sixth goal of the night, handing the Union a frustrating defeat despite their explosive offensive showing.
Three Points
- Iloski Hatty: Iloski was electric throughout the first half, scoring a hat trick and constantly threatening Miami’s back line. His movement and finishing gave the Union a clinical edge they have lacked this season.
- Defensive Issues: While scoring four goals on the road is usually enough to earn points, the Union struggled to contain Miami’s attacking trio. Defensive spacing and transition coverage repeatedly let Philadelphia down.
- The Kids Showed Up: Cavan Sullivan helped create the opening goal and looked confident against some of the league’s biggest stars, while Frankie Westfield added an assist and consistently got involved in the attack. Even in a chaotic match, the Union’s younger contributors showed they can impact games against top-level opposition.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union (4-4-2):
Andre Blake; Ben Bender, Nathan Harriel, Geiner Martinez (Jeremy Rafanello – 67′), Frankie Westfield (Finn Sundstrom – 83′); Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean Jacques, Agustín Anello (Ezekiel Alladoh – 57′), Cavan Sullivan (Alejandro Bedoya – 66′); Bruno Damiani (Phillippe Ndinga – 83′), Milan Iloski
Unused Substitutes: Andrew Rick; Jesus Bueno, Kellan LeBlanc
Inter Miami (4-3-3):
Dayne St. Clair; Micael, Gonzalo Lujan, Sergio Reguilon (Facundo Mura – 68′), Ian Fray (Noah Allen – 88′); Yannick Bright (David Ruiz – 88′), Telasco Segovia (David Ayala – 67′), Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi (Mateo Silvetti – 73′)
Unused Substitutes: Rocco Rios Novo, Daniel Pinter, Maximiliano Falcon, Preston Plambeck
Scoring Summary:
PHI: Milan Iloski (Frankie Westfield, Cavan Sullivan) – 4′
PHI: Milan Iloski (Penalty) – 10′
MIA: Germán Berterame (Leo Messi) – 13′
PHI: Bruno Damiani – 20′
MIA: Luis Suarez (Ian Fray) – 29′
MIA: Germán Berterame (Leo Messi) – 42′
MIA: Luis Suarez – 44′
PHI: Milan Iloski (Penalty) – 45′ +8
MIA: Luis Suarez (Germán Berterame) – 81′
MIA: Rodrigo De Paul (Mateo Silvetti) – 90’+3
Disciplinary Summary:
MIA: Dayne St. Clair (Yellow – Foul) – 9′
PHI: Geiner Martinez (Yellow – Foul) – 16′
PHI: Jovan Lukic (Yellow – Foul) – 24′
MIA: Ian Fray (Yellow – Foul) – 38′
MIA: Telasco Segovia (Yellow – Foul) – 45’+11
MIA: Sergio Reguilon (Yellow – Foul) – 49′
PHI: Danley Jean Jacques (Yellow – Foul) – 75′
MIA: David Ruiz (Yellow – Foul) – 90’+3
MIA: Noah Allen (Yellow – Foul) – 90’+7
I’ve been a bit whiet lately observing… but not tonight.
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Is this a joke? Some long sleight of hand?
There are whipping boys everywhere —- EVERYWHERE this is so fucked..but NONE more egregious then Jovan Lukic. You sir are in my crosshairs.
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SIR… You let a 77 yr old washed up #9 striker 15 lbs over weight beat you down the field running with hus heels spur..THEN had the audacity to compound error and WEAK ASS header’d the ball to the other team … directly costing your team another gol. Are you a serious player? Is this a serious team? Ben Bender to midfield and Alejandro Bedoya and Huck Finn Raffanello / Fassbender Sundstrum? One decrepit the others college players at best. AT BEST. I can’t fathom ghis guys decision making an iota.
Meanwhile AGAIN the only player with any real quality on that field gets benched again for a Bender Bedoya Fassbender. Genuinely this team is so bad a 16 year okd is its most dangerous player and he gets pocket pool.
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It is remarkable.
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You bencged Cavan Sullivan for a 40 year okd man. Mindbending. I now root for the failure. Congrats— You’ve entered Nick Sakawicz’ville for me.
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Utterly inept soccer. Unacceptable.
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Off with their heads. You are a joke. It does not represent me.
I’m so perturbed my ordinarily fairly clean grammar is a shit as that experience tonight. No excuses. NONE. Go sit down for 5 weeks i don’t want to see you.
The Union started with purpose and caught Miami asleep given their expectant attitude against a cellar dweller lineup. Miami’s weakness is defense and the Union smartly took advantage. Once they focused and woke up though, they had the well known offensive firepower to close the score gap and annihilate a cellar dweller club to save face.
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Cav yet again made the difference. I was disappointed to see him pulled to be replaced by an old low energy player in an already toasted season. Only the future matters now. Does anyone know why young promising prospect Malik Jakupovic wasn’t reported on the bench? It was reported here that he flew to Miami.
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The energy and momentum was gone in the second half. The Union got caught too many times on the counter in both halves given youth inexperience and low overall quality of the team. They squandered some goal opportunities too.
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Ilsoki had an overall fine match with a hat trick, but I temper that with two of them being PKs (well taken though). The team needs goal creation from play, which has been terrible. Cav sets up many wasted opportunities.
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Damiani finally got a goal since a PK in August last year, but the verdict is still in that he’s a bust.
Iloski (typo above)
Respectfully, I don’t agree with the tempered for PKs…as far as Iloski. If it was Gazdag productivity, getting to take them for everyone else’s fouls, that’s one thing. However, the one he totally earned himself and was basically a breakaway tap in take down, and the other was a handball caused by his perfect run into the box. Cavan saw him and was trying to chip it to him.
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I totally agree with the rest of your sentiments, though. They have problems all over. If we didn’t make that Iloski deal last year, we would just have to be filling another giant hole.
The Big Iloski….
Maybe I do not understand soccer, or human physiology, or thermal and atmospheric considerations like I think that I do. However, in what world do you play super aggressive in the first half, and then in the 2nd half give the geriatric opposing team a more low block look, that they could use their experience to pick apart? So, when it is sweltering and old players would be gassed, we do them a favor and slow things down? All the while, we remove our 16 year old, who was the dynamic force involved in all of the critical action. What 16 year olds has Bradley Carnell been around that he thinks our highly skilled 16 year old cannot outrun/outlast players in the 32-39 years old bracket…like Inter MIA has?
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Carnell was certainly handed a horrible deck of cards with this interim Sporting Director and Owner, but he has definitely contributed his fair share of offenses, too. Did anyone else honestly not think what this season may have been like had Cavan started from day one, instead of dribble and double back Vassilev?
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Another thing about Cavan Sullivan, he clearly values Assists (Team Accomplishments) just as much as Goals. He will look for a pass when a terrible player will look to take the low percentage shot. I actually think Cavan can take more himself. Now look at Anello. The dude blows a 3 on 1, which would have given us a lead, and then ball hogs another one. The Anello situation will be solved, though, as soon as Quinn is back.
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We need serious transfer activity, especially rolling into the short season of 2027 where you will need to be hot out of the gate. Clearly we learned a lot this year. Without Glesnes back there, Makhanya was definitely not the player that they thought they had. This is not to say he won’t get there, but we need a young CB of real quality to come in and compliment him, because both CBs that they brought in this year look terrible. Union Management also needs to admit that the misses at CF have been real, are not likely to regain any considerable return, and they need to bring in quality and see what we have in the Union II folk, as well. Lukic and Bender turn the ball over way too much, though Bender did a lot more on the offensive/possession side in this game and does play out of position now. Therefore, we need to add a Destroyer type DMF, too.
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Speaking of Bender and Carnell, how the heck is that RB sub made, too? You take out Westfield, who was flying all over and involved in everything like Cavan, instead of subbing for Bender…even if you had to move Westfield over to the other side? These are simple things, I thought, at least from my seasons managing PES teams. Let’s not give up, though, and push for that final playoff spot. With some additions this summer, and the playoff setup of MLS, anything can still happen!
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Good luck to Danley Jean Jacques (maybe Makhanya, too) and especially the USMNT, at the World Cup. “I believe that we will win!”
Good posts.
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Fair points on how Iloski’s PKs came about, but we’ll never know for sure if he would have converted had the fouls not occurred. The team is sadly notorious for blowing sitting ducks too.
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Indeed, our youthful budding T Tauri Stars are a plus against the aged Red Supergiant Stars who use our league to prep and invest for their future before they reach the Black Hole Supernova stage of their playing career. Bedoya is as old as theirs and Messi had to be subbed for reported ‘fatigue’, so why let up on the youthful energy advantage, especially when they have something to prove.
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Sully isn’t a selfish player and values what moves best produce the desired team results. That’s clearly an overall positive that will pay off with more talented teammates. He could have taken a couple shots though that wouldn’t have been selfish but the best decision. That’s a product of his position too, an assist maker. More experience will help his decision making in that regard, so keep playing him.
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Yeah, the club shit the bed playing moneyball this year clearly and dearly. For even the most talented evaluators, it’s of limited value because you’re seeking something for nothing.
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The rest of the soccer world have eyes, ears, videos and scouts too and usually can’t all be that oblivious when it comes to wheat versus chaff.
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It also takes big gambles on players with character flaws and/or injury histories. If you’re lucky, great. If not, you have a mess, and the bust rate is high with them.
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Isak comes to mind as a learning lesson. Newcastle got him on an injury free spree while he kept his assholia under control. It paid off in spades…for a bit. The club’s success under his productivity fueled his inner assholia to return on full display to force his demanded trade to a traditional top flight club. Liverpool paid a fortune for him despite his dishonorable toxic antics, and his injury proneness returned. Now Liverpool has a £125 million useless asshole.
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Teams that succeed build their teams properly like Arsenal did this year by not only developing but also investing in reliable quality and building depth.
Makhanya was missed last night (suspended) as was Sery Larsen (injury). Having our starting defense in last night may have made a difference. Maybe.
Andre Blake; another worry spot in a dumpster fire of a team. Six goals? Don’t discount his culpability last night. Just a cluster-f. in every area. Nobody escapes blame.
Plenty of blame to go around plus the attacking trio of the highest payroll team so I wouldn’t look to add Blake in the mix. Several of those goals were counterattacks – hockey 3 v1 if you will where Blake had no chance.
Miami was never going to lose this game. They came out weak expecting an easy win, but just started playing when they got slapped a couple of times. The Union is going to be everybody’s ‘W’ for the rest of the year. The defense, which has been better than average for many years is now a joke. 1 win, no real ideas, iffy coach, no GM, apathetic ownership, this organization is a complete mess. #selltheteam
If the ref had any balls, the Miami goalie would have had a deserved red card and considering his later saves, the U probably a couple more goals. I agree with Miami was never going to lose this game, but mostly because MLS had a thumb on the scales.
Not bothering to watch road games this season but followed along on the team’s website. Am I correct in understanding that when they gave up the winning goal the back line consisted of Westfield, Rafanello, Harriel, and Bender? Can anyone be surprised that goals would be scored against the team when there are only 2 natural defenders and no center back against the highest scoring team in the league?
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And then when they go down a goal that’s when they decide to pull their striker who FINALLY scored a goal and put in an actual defender? Did anyone think about closing the barn door before the horse bolted rather than after?
I watched, so some context:
– Martinez was on a yellow, was starting to slow down, and had just gotten lucky not to pick up a second yellow for a handball outside the box (ref ruled it unintentional, you could make a case it was on purpose). Carnell subbed him out to keep the Union with 11 on the field.
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Earlier in the second half Damiani had pulled up while running down the field, he had been moving very slowly after that, and there was a brief shot of him limping visibly before he was subbed out.
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Not defending the subs, but not a lot of options with who was available on the bench.
Carnell claimed, in the post game, that Martinez was hurt, and had to come out. He said that Martinez was limping. Maybe he wanted out of the game, too.
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Despite the great start to the game, I wasn’t that hopeful. Especially after being up 2 goals, twice, in the Inter May 24, 2025 game…when the Union had a much better team. Given that history, was anyone really that confident that they wouldn’t blow two 2 goal leads again?
The handball came after Martinez shouldered down from the back by Lujan, who made no attempt to play the ball. Martinez thought that he would get the call (as in 90% of other professional leagues, he would have) for being shouldered down from the back, so he handled the ball. I was amazed that with his persistent fouling, Lujan went deeply into the 2nd half without being carded.
When Martinez went out, Lukic dropped to CB and Rafinello took his place, but your point is still true.
After 15 games, I’m of the opinion these players signed in the offseason need to be dropped to Union 2 for a run of matches, as they are not MLS ready:
Alladoh
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Ndinga
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Sundstrom
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I’m not sure who takes their spots on the bench because I don’t believe the young players currently in those positions on Union 2 are MLS ready either, but these 3 should only make the first team squad in Leagues Cup as rotation pieces. Just a horrible offseason by the front office.
Worst team in the history of history.
All previously elucidated points by the gallery valid.
18 total goals.
In 3 games, PU managed to score 3 or more. Zero wins. 1 point.
Both teams had numerous chances to add to the totals. Sometimes, the Herons hit woodwork.
One time; Anello teed up a great pass to Geinous- alone near the 6.
He hit…….. the corner flag.
Sugar has an opportunity to start over NOW…
TERMINATE RED BULL PHILADELPHIA
FIRE CARNELL
DISMISS TANNER
When Cavan was subbed out, I felt like Carnell was waving the white flag. Cavan is perhaps the best player on the pitch for the Union, he should be playing for 90. I don’t know why Carnell is gun shy about that.
Maybe Man City has a say in that?
They sure do.
Why remove Cavan? Just why?
Answering T Bone too.
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Not to agree with the substitution at all, but two rational explanations come to mind.
1) He may have been getting tired given his extra work rate carrying a zombie team, and
2) MC owns his future. He’s shortly to be taken, and they don’t want damaged goods with injuries. The Union-MC contract contains a conditional transfer clause. If he suffers a severe injury, MC gets to fully reassess the transfer, including a full backout if warranted.
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Those injury odds increase significantly when playing for an extra shitty team like ours due to his 16 y/old age, his extra workload, opponents targeting the few or only quality players like him, him taking reckless chances due to frustration especially given his age and determination, etc.
– When Cavan was subbed for Bedoya, I knew the plot was lost. Explain that one to me in a game you should be trying to win.
– Horrible sequence by Lukic on Miami’s fifth goal; pinching forward and letting the ball get past him and then losing a footrace with 77-year old Luis Suarez. Painful.
– Somewhere, Rais M’Bholi is saying to himself, “Thank goodness for Alladoh! I’m no longer the worst signing in Union history.”
+1. When we give player ratings, are we allowed to give negative numbers?
Very funny and true about the Mbholi and Allibaba signing. Why? Who scouted this guy? Was this a Tanner reccomend action? I would think if you were looking to replace Baribo you would want someone at least who had a ton of goals if they were coming from a worse league then the MLS or could not get enough playing time and was playing time and had unmistakable talent .
Carnell and Tanner will be fired before the next Union game after the break. Still solves nothing while Sugarman owns the team. Sugarman gutted the team and Carnell and Tanner did not even blink.
I would imagine Tanner will be back June 1st and two players that will get playing time will be Quinn Sullivan and Neil Pierre back from loan in Europe. Anello had some moments last night but coaching can help him make better decisions.
I can see
Anello Iloski
Sullivan Danley Bueno Sullivan
Harriel Mahkanya Sery Westfield
Blake
Give you more creativity and tightens up the defense.
The problem is the bench and Carnell not willing to use Cavan for 90 minutes.
Is it my imagination or was the first part of the season marked by inability to score but fairly defensively sound games. Where now it seems like as soon as we learned to score we have no defense at all anymore? Anyway. Fun game for the neutrals I’m sure. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a ref “blowout a shoe”.
So many firsts at Subaru …
Remember…
Paul getting a Red Card…
The racoon’s mad dash across the pitch…
Youngest MLS player ever…
8 first half goals in one game…
First HDR Video board in MLS…
Zero land full stadium…
What else?
What a gay way to play all season. This is what you get when you dummies put your sporting director ,who is a real man, under scrutiny for using no-no words in the front office. Getting what we deserve for playing the way those rainbow flags want us to. Stop being woke MLS
Great comments. Thanks for adding to the discussion. Take your trash back to Facebook you fuckin loser.
You dummy it wasn’t the coach, it’s Sugarman and you’ve said nothing about it because you know nothing, keep waving your rainbow flag that’s really helping dumbass
If Carnell doesn’t get canned (I’m sure he won’t cause money and whatever), after this game I don’t know what it will take. All momentum was killed with the subs. Anello, Cavan – the only ones creating – removed for Bedoya and Alladoh?! Horrible decisions. Did we all know they were going to lose – even up 3-1 – yeah. But to just hand an old, sloppy, team the chance to keep scoring with those subs was enough for me. Carnell’s gotta go
Looks like you got your wish.
How far the U have fallen; neither ESPN nor MLS’ own website have a story on his sacking. only the Inquirer does.
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Next, send Sugarman and Tanner packing.
Looks like Tanner is gone, too.
https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/philadelphia-union-announce-sporting-changes
Surprisingly there is an official press release from the Union before the rumors started! I expect that will be on the MLS website soon.
The announcement that Scheer is now the SD is effectively sending Tanner packing. Maybe they can’t say anything about Tanner because he is in legal limbo until June 1. Not sure about the Scheer decision depending on how much he was involved in this year’s signings that have performed oh so well /s.
Pete beat me to it.
Like Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this was inevitable.
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I hear Pep’s available. ;(
Let’s hope for the impossible the implausible the nonsensical… I want Pep!
Ryan Richter, Union II coach is interim manager for now: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48893836/mls-worst-philadelphia-union-fire-coach-bradley-carnell