Union snap draw streak with first win in a month

It took hanging on for dear life through seven minutes of stoppage time but the Philadelphia Union snapped their five-game draw streak and won their first match in a month with a 3-2 victory over Atlanta United on Wednesday night.

The first half was pretty evenly played though Atlanta United was unlucky not to get a penalty on a Nathan Harriel handball and a great chance for Tristan Muyumba in the 36th minute was blasted too close to Andre Blake. But as the Union at their best are known to do they followed the Blake save with three goals in rapid succession ahead of the halftime break via a Daniel Gazdag overhead kick, a Mikael Uhre strike and a combo play goal for Julian Carranza assisted by Gazdag.

Looking like they would be headed for a lopsided win circa 2022 with the trio of goals from the 39th minute on to lead 3-0, the second half resembled more the FC Cincinnati blown lead draw than any of the multi-goal shellackings of last season.

Atlanta United found their way back with a taste of the Union’s own medicine, earning a penalty kick for Thiago Almada after a Julian Carranza handball in the 56th minute and making it 3-2 on a goal from instant impact sub Edwin Mosquera. Atlanta had a couple chances to equalize that fell for Brooks Lennon but fortunately for the hosts the right back’s touch was off and their defense – reinforced by Damion Lowe and Matt Real substitutions – clawed through multiple waves of attacks to preserve all three points and move the Union into third place in the Eastern Conference with two games left to play.

The win was the first for the Union since their 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls on September 3 but it extended their unbeaten streak to seven. Since the Leagues Cup ended, the Union have lost just once – the still hard-to-believe loss at Toronto – in nine games and have just that single loss in their last 11 in league play.

The Union welcome Nashville SC on Saturday in their final regular season home game of the season before traveling to New England for Decision Day after the international break on Oct. 21.

The Union are a point ahead of Columbus Crew in the standings and three behind second place Orlando City.