Philly wrecks Atlanta 3-0 as Baribo scores in statement win

Even with 10 men, Philadelphia Union controlled every moment as Baribo sealed his seventh goal—now leading the MLS scoring charts—in a performance the Union fans and Atlanta won’t forget.

Fans at Subaru Park last weekend expecting another tight Philly-Atlanta clash got something else entirely: a Union masterclass. After three winless matches (one draw, two losses), the 3-0 scoreline told the whole story: a sharp, clinical team rising to the occasion with their stars stepping up when it mattered most. From start to finish, Philly controlled the tempo, brushed off Lukic’s second-half red card, and still had room for Baribo to seal it with his league-leading seventh goal.

A fast start sets the tone

Unlike previous matches, the Union wasted no time showing what they were here for. The starting front three—Uhre, Damiani, and Vassilev—created their first real chance in the 16th minute. Damiani muscled past Cobb to spark the attack and slipped it to Uhre, whose shot was blocked by Gregersen. Vassilev didn’t let up: he chased it down, won it back, and kept the play alive.

By the 27th minute, Subaru Park was shaking. Wagner tore down the left, beat his man, and whipped in a cross. A shaky clearance by Atlanta’s keeper, Guzan, fell to Quinn Sullivan like a gift from above. He calmly chested it down and smashed it into the corner, getting his first goal of the season and an absolute beauty. But Sullivan wasn’t done. Later in the match, he added an assist on the third goal, sealing a standout performance.

Teamwork for the win

The boys in blue came out of the break with the same fire they had going in. This time, they looked determined to win and protect their spot in the MLS standings, and it paid off just five minutes in. In a chaotic sequence involving half the team, Lukic and Wagner won the ball back in midfield and sent it to Uhre, while Damiani released Danley Jean Jacques down the left. In an incredible play, Jean Jacques nutmegged Guzan to make it 2-0 and scored his first goal for the team.

But not everything was smooth sailing. In the 56th minute, Lukic, already on a yellow, picked up a second and was sent off with a red. The crowd at Subaru Park tensed up: Philly was now down a man, and Atlanta had plenty of time to mount a comeback. Their best shot came in the 76th minute, but even with Miguel Almirón back in the mix, they couldn’t shake André Blake, who had just returned from a minor injury and stood strong in front of the net through the whole game.

The third time is the charm

Even down a man, the Union still found a way to score again, this time through Tai Baribo, who reclaimed his spot as the league’s top scorer with his seventh goal of the season, surpassing even Leo Messi, who sits at three. Sullivan set it up with a perfect cross, and Baribo powered past his defender at the near post before slotting it cleanly into the corner and sealing the game with a 3-0.

The road is looking brighter for the boys in blue, now sitting on 16 points and holding the 5th spot in the MLS standings—just three points behind current leaders, Charlotte FC. Next week, Philadelphia Union takes on DC United, aiming to grab more points and keep climbing the MLS ladder.