Match Report: Philadelphia Union 2 – 1 Atlas FC
The Philadelphia Union hosted Liga MX’s Atlas FC at Subaru Park, located on the Delaware River, for a thrilling mid-season international friendly. The Union, in their signature “electricity” blue and yellow kit, fielded a 21-man roster consisting of a mix of first-team starters, reserves, and Union II players. With Andre Blake away on international duty with Jamaica and Andrew Rick with the U.S. U-19s, goalkeeper Oliver Semmle received his first start of the season.
The defensive lineup saw Kai Wagner on the left, Olwethu Makhanya and Jakob Glesnes at center-back, and Olivier Mbaizo on the right. Midfielders Ben Bender, Jeremey Raffanello, Jesus Bueno, and captain Alejandro Bedoya made up the midfield. Chris Donovan and Bruno Damiani led the attack. On the bench, backup keeper Mike Sheridan was joined by defenders Neil Pierre and Isaiah LeFlore, midfielders Nick Pariano, Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, and Leandro Soria, and forwards Stas Korzeniowski, Markus Anderson, and Eddy Davis III.
How The Match Unfolded
The first half was relatively uneventful, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. The Union looked more dominant, but could not produce consistent possession or chances. The best opportunity came at the very end of the first half, with the Union nearly finding the back of the net during stoppage time. However, Atlas reacted swiftly, ensuring the match remained 0-0 at the break.
A Thrilling Second Half
The second half began with a flurry of substitutions for the Union. Newcomers Anderson, Pariano, Pierre, and LeFlore entered the field, with Pariano, Pierre, and LeFlore making their first-team debuts. The Union wasted no time asserting themselves, and Anderson opened the scoring in the 46th minute. The 21-year-old forward, a Brooklyn native, made an immediate impact with a clinical finish, giving the Union a 1-0 lead.
Semmle had an important moment in the 49th minute, coming up with a crucial save to deny Atlas an equalizer. The Union’s defense held strong, but in the 62nd minute, Atlas managed to level the score. Forward Diego Luis Gonzalez slipped past LeFlore and beat Semmle to make it 1-1.
However, the Union quickly regained the lead just minutes later. In the 65th minute, Davis III capitalized on a precise pass from Vassilev and slotted the ball past Atlas’ keeper into the bottom corner to put the Union ahead 2-1.
With a few more substitutions, including Leandro Soria coming on for Rafanello in the 78th minute, the Union continued to press. Semmle once again played a vital role, making a fantastic one-handed save to preserve the lead. After five minutes of added time, the match ended in a hard-fought 2-1 victory for the Union.
PSP’s 3 Points
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A heavily rotated squad: Semmle made the most of his first start, stepping up when needed with key saves. Anderson and Davis III made a significant impact, scoring the Union’s two goals.
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Playing time: The Union saw 20 players get minutes in the match, with only backup keeper Mike Sheridan not seeing the field.
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Injury-free: Despite some physical play and yellow cards on both sides, the Union emerged from the friendly without any additional injuries, which is especially important given the number of players away on international duty.
The Philadelphia Union will now resume MLS play on Saturday, June 14th, against Charlotte FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the game on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
