Philadelphia Union
Three Straight? Union Have Chance to Build Momentum
Could it be? A win streak? That is what is on the line this evening as the Philadelphia Union host Atlanta United in the Blue and Gold’s third match of this homestand. The last time the Union won three straight was May of 2025, and the Union faithful are yearning for an excuse to be excited about this club again. The odds (somehow) seem in their favor tonight. A struggling Five Stripes side comes to Chester, looking to find their first victory in all competition since May 2nd. Let’s break down the matchup.
Atlanta United Searching for Answers
Atlanta enters tonight’s match in very similar standing to the Union. Only a point behind in the table through 17 matches, the Five Stripes look to reset and reload heading into the second half of the season.
Sporting Director Chris Henderson was hard at work over the World Cup break, revamping the lineup to plan for a strong showing heading into next season’s sprint schedule.
Atlanta conceded more than most across the league, and after a 4-1 thrashing against New England last weekend, the club looks to its new defensive signings to bolster its back line. Atlanta signed 33-year-old Paraguayan Júnior Alonso and 31-year-old Chilean Paulo Díaz as their new centerback pairing.
Skipper Tata Martino also has confidence in the new signings to bring a bit more certainty to the back of their lineup, but the questions with this squad revolve around the attacking players.
Atlanta United are the lowest scorers across the league this season with 17 goals in as many matches. Not to mention, they are rounding out the longest road stretch in club history at seven matches. Atlanta needs answers, and they look toward club legends and familiar faces to get results.
Starting with the veteran, 32-year-old Miguel Almirón is starting to find his form since his return to Atlanta from Newcastle. He has scored in two straight matches and has three assists across the 2026 campaign. Those two goals are his first with the club this season. If Atlanta wants success in Philly, much of it has to run through Almirón on the left flank.
Additionally, a Philadelphia Union alum lines up their attack. 35-year-old Haitian Fafa Picault has a goal and an assist in 2026, and his addition to the club in 2025 not only brings his speed and scoring threat, but also his leadership.
“I think it’s important not just how you approach the game on Saturdays or Wednesdays, but also how we prepare and the winning and competitive mentality with little things and everything that we do throughout [the week],” Picault said. “It’s important to implement those things throughout the week and shift that mindset to going into the weekends.”
The remainder of this season seems to be a reset for the Five Stripes. With more signings on the way, according to Sporting Director Chris Henderson, Atlanta is using the remainder of the season to put the pieces together and build for the future.
Keys to Success
Struggling to score and working through changes in the back line aren’t great pieces to the puzzle for Atlanta. However, if they can grab the first goal and hold sound defensively, they may frustrate the U enough to grab themselves some points heading into the Leagues Cup break.
Union Riding Wave of Confidence
Ryan Richter has the boys buzzing out of the World Cup break. The Union looks like a team reborn with two straight victories. Although they’re both against reeling opponents, the Union looks to take out one more struggling club to jump into the Leagues Cup break with all nine points from their homestand.
Believe it or not, the Union sits just eight points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and much of this is attributed to alterations to the lineup and playstyle from the first half of the season. Most notably, Milan Iloski.
Iloski left for the World Cup break on fire and has remained smoking hot ever since. The American forward has scored in five consecutive games, tying the Union record set by Daniel Gazdag. He can break it tonight, and Richter’s structure has set Iloski up for just that.
Milan plays as more of a true striker under Richter, giving him the freedom and flexibility to do what he does best: create. Iloski is the spark the U needs to continue this hot streak, and I would put good money on him finding the back of the net again tonight.
Additionally, the return of Quinn Sullivan provides essential depth to the Union attack. With his return to fitness, there is significantly less pressure on players such as Indiana Vassilev and Bruno Damiani to be as clinical in the lineup.
However, my player to step up tonight is Damiani. Bruno is out of sorts this season, lacking the clinical ability to make a difference in this lineup. As Ezekiel Alladoh continues to gain momentum (he looked fantastic in his reserve minutes last weekend), could Damiani’s time in the starting eleven be coming to an end?
Defensively, the return of Kai Wagner is proving beneficial to a Union back line that struggled significantly in the first half of the season. The Union defense has only conceded once in their last two matches, and Andre Blake found just his third clean sheet of the season. Defensive consistency is essential for Philly, and with the recent departure of Olwethu Makhanya to Rangers in Scotland, the back line of Wagner, Sery, Neil, Harriel, and Westfield will have to provide for the Boys in Blue.
Keys to Success
Finding form was the first battle, but can they keep the momentum going? Tonight’s match will be the perfect test to see if the Union can take care of the clubs that they should be across the league. I expect them to get up early and ride this one out. If the Union can take momentum into the Leagues Cup, who knows what will happen down the final stretch of the 2026 regular season.
You can catch the match at 7:30 PM on Apple TV+.
