Uhre hat trick leads Philadelphia Union to 4-2 win over Toronto FC

The Philadelphia Union defeated Toronto FC on Saturday night, clinching a 4-2 victory at home. The win served as the team’s first in MLS action since March 11 against Chicago Fire FC. A hat trick from forward Mikael Uhre gave the Union all it needed on the attack, as the Dane dominated Sean Johnson in goal.

Jim Curtin rolled with a seemingly first-selection lineup against Toronto, despite a match against LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League on Wednesday, April 26.

The Union was active from the start of the match, but they didn’t score the game’s first goal. Instead, Toronto provided the Union with an own goal in the 15th minute. Daniel Gazdag created chaos in the box while driving toward the net, and while he lost the ball, Toronto struggled to clear the ball and ended up sending it back into its own net.

Que golazo #DOOP pic.twitter.com/iRKzoCI7xl

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) April 23, 2023

Moments later, Uhre took his first goal of the night, as he placed his shot into the net on his first touch. While Uhre saw the benefit of a deflection, the goal was a result of several minutes of pressure by the Union.

Twice as nice 😄😄 pic.twitter.com/qmCGc7LT6S

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) April 23, 2023

Uhre scored his second goal in the 43rd minute, as he cleanly slotted home the ball past Johnson after streaking down the pitch by himself. A well-placed pass from Jack McGlynn sent Uhre down the pitch as he seemingly put the game out of reach for Toronto.

The Danish forward earned his hat trick in the second half, as he slotted a ball home in the 57th minute. An assist from Julian Carranza set him up, as the Union responded well to several moments of pressure from the visitors.

This man has a scoring problem pic.twitter.com/QqPJjsLcYg

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) April 23, 2023

Toronto wasn’t quite ready to call it quits after Uhre’s third goal. Lorenzo Insigne placed a curling shot past Andre Blake in the 66th minute. It was Insigne’s first goal of the year in his first start for Toronto.

Philadelphia nearly closed out the match with ease, but Toronto’s Richie Laryea found the team’s second goal in stoppage time of the second half. Laryea’s goal was a demonstration of the Union’s defensive laziness as the game came to a close, though the result wasn’t greatly affected.

Curtin rotated his team throughout the duration of the second half, though some of his substitutions were made slightly later than fans may have liked. Quinn Sullivan, Leon Flach, Jesus Bueno, and Andres Perea all made appearances.

Uhre was clearly the best man on the pitch on Saturday. His three goals speak for themselves, but the Union also took a step down in on-field quality when he left the match. Along with Carranza and Gazdag, Uhre is starting to gain his form.

The Union next face LAFC at home at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26. The match will be broadcast on FS1.