Photo courtesy of Kevin Barrett

The Philadelphia Union’s last game before the World Cup break was an exciting one, but ultimately ended in a familiar place. The Union and Inter Miami made MLS history by becoming the first pair of teams to trade eight goals in the first-half, but the Union were ultimately unable to hang on as Miami pulled ahead in the second half.

Player Ratings

GK Andre Blake – 3.5

It wasn’t the worst performance ever from a goalkeeper conceding six goals, especially given that there were Miami players running free in the box on pretty much all of them, but Blake might have done better with his parries on the fourth and fifth goals. Blake probably also needed to do more to keep this inexperienced backline organized, but I’ll accept that there is only so much he can do from back in net.

LB Ben Bender – 2.5

Once again, Bender helped create some nice moments in the attack, but his inexperience on the backline was on full display in this one, particularly when his failed clearance led to Miami’s opener.

CB Nathan Harriel – 2

It is difficult to wrap one’s head around how poor the defensive positioning, organization, and tackling were in this game. All six of Miami’s goals featured at least one attacker alone in front of the net for an easy finish. Harriel has played enough games at center back to expect better play than this.

CB Geiner Martinez – 2

I understand that Martinez is relatively young and inexperienced, but again, the lack of organization between the center backs was shocking. Martinez in particular was caught ball-watching on a few of Miami’s many goals.

RB Frankie Westfield – 3.5

Westfield set up the Union’s first goal with a clever flicked header in the box, and the third when his shot was spilled to the feet of Damiani. But Westfield doesn’t escape the blame for this defensive performance, particularly on Miami’s third, where he kept Bertarame onside.

DM Jovan Lukic – 2

Directly responsible for Miami’s last two goals after moving to center back. I can have some sympathy for a midfielder playing out of position (his face when Rafanello came on and gave him his instructions said it all). But Lukic was also the one who completely fell asleep on the back post on Miami’s fourth goal, letting Luis Suarez score uncontested.

DM Danley Jean Jacques – 3.5

Danley struggled to get stuck in against Inter Miami’s talented attackers, and ultimately didn’t have much influence on the game.

AM Agustín Anello – 5

Anello had a couple of nice moments, including a pair of chances late in the first half that he might have done better with.

AM Cavan Sullivan – 7

Won a penalty and looked generally dangerous throughout, but ran out of gas in the second half, and had a few shaky moments defensively (including a bad failed tackle in the lead-up to Miami’s fourth goal).

FWD Bruno Damiani – 6

Damiani finally notched his first goal of the season. It was a simple tap-in, but hopefully it will be something to build on when the Union come back from the World Cup break. Didn’t do a whole lot of note besides that.

FWD Milan Iloski – 9

For most of the season, it has felt like Iloski is the only Union attacker capable of creating consistent danger, but the forward was on another level tonight. Iloski tried his best to drag this team to victory, with a hat trick, seven shots, several penalty shouts, and a number of good moments in the press.

Substitutes

(57’) FWD Ezekiel Alladoh – 4.5

Alladoh did not take any shots after coming on, and it generally did not look he was on the same page as his teammates.

(66’) AM Alejandro Bedoya – 5

The veteran midfielder had a decent headed chance in the 78th minute, but couldn’t do much to stem the tide as the second half progressed.

(67’) Jeremy Rafanello – 5

I think Rafanello actually played decent amid the chaos of the second half, but having him come on for the Union’s one natural center back certainly felt like the turning point.

(83’) Philippe Ndinga – N/A

(83’) Finn Sundstrom – N/A

Geiger Counter

REF Rosendo Mendoza – 6.5

Gave the Union two penalties and a moment of levity when his shoe exploded. Not much more you can ask for.

Player of the Match – Milan Iloski

A first-half hat trick for Iloski, who heads into the World Cup break with seven league goals. The rest of his teammates have combined for ten.

What’s Next…

MLS goes on its long World Cup break. The Philadelphia Union will return to action on July 22 at 7:30 ET, hosting the New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park. In the meantime, keep an eye on Danley Jean Jacques with Haiti, Olwethu Makhanya with South Africa, and a number of Union alumni with the US mens national team at the 2026 World Cup.