Major League Soccer Regular Season - 4

Atlanta United FC 3 - 1 FT Philadelphia Union

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
56
FT
Sat, Mar 14
Atlanta United FC
3-1
Philadelphia Union
⚡ Intensity 59
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 10
Atlanta takes command in first leg.

Atlanta Seizes First-Leg Advantage Over Spiraling Union

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. A ruthless attacking showcase gives the hosts a commanding cushion, leaving a broken Philadelphia squad staring down the barrel of elimination.

Early Drama at the Benz

The Stakes were palpable inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a desperate Philadelphia Union side arrived carrying the weight of a disastrous five-game losing streak in league play. The visitors surprisingly controlled possession early on, attempting to dictate the tempo and quiet the raucous home crowd. However, the game's Intensity shifted dramatically in the 16th minute. A penalty initially awarded to Atlanta United FC following a chaotic sequence involving Stian Gregersen was dramatically overturned by VAR, momentarily giving Philly a psychological boost. That relief proved entirely fleeting. Just twelve minutes later, E. Latte Lath found the crucial breakthrough, ruthlessly punishing the Union's fragile defensive shape and officially opening the floodgates for a vibrant home side eager to capitalize on their opponent's miserable form.

The Almirón Masterclass

If the opening act merely set the table, the second half was an absolute feast orchestrated almost entirely by Miguel Almirón. The dynamic playmaker was simply untouchable, operating with complete freedom in the final third to dismantle any semblance of defensive Balance the Union desperately tried to establish. Barely two minutes after the halftime restart, Almirón's elite vision unlocked the backline to expertly set up Tomás Jacob, who confidently doubled the advantage. Atlanta's sheer efficiency in front of goal was staggering to witness. Despite holding a mere 42% of the ball throughout the contest, their transition game was lethal. They struck yet again when Aleksei Miranchuk fired home a brilliant finish in the 68th minute, capping off another pinpoint Almirón delivery and pushing the scoreline to an ugly 3-0.

A Sliver of Hope

Facing a catastrophic three-goal aggregate deficit ahead of the looming August return leg, Philadelphia desperately needed a savior to salvage their knockout hopes. Their heavy possession dominance finally yielded a tangible, meaningful reward in the dying moments, slightly minimizing the overall Upset Factor of a complete road demolition. After being injected into the match in the 57th minute, substitute A. Anello stepped onto the field and instantly provided a direct, attacking spark, eventually grabbing a crucial 87th-minute consolation goal. While Atlanta walks away with a highly deserved, decisive 3-1 victory and undeniable momentum, that late strike ensures the Union still have a faint, flickering lifeline as they prepare to host the second chapter of this high-stakes tie.

Key Questions

How did VAR change this match?

In the 16th minute, VAR overturned an Atlanta penalty involving Stian Gregersen. However, Atlanta quickly recovered their momentum, scoring shortly after the ruling to take control.

What made Miguel Almirón the Man of the Match?

Almirón orchestrated the attack flawlessly, providing two crucial assists and pulling apart Philadelphia's defense to secure Atlanta's commanding first-leg victory.

How did substitute Miguel Almirón change the game?

Though Almirón actually started the match, his impact was transformative. He dictated the tempo and delivered two elite assists to completely unravel the opposition.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
42%
58%
Atlanta United FC 42%
Philadelphia Union 58%
Shots
11
14
Atlanta United FC 11
Philadelphia Union 14
Shots on Target
4
3
Atlanta United FC 4
Philadelphia Union 3
Expected Goals (xG)
2.58
2.24
Atlanta United FC 2.58
Philadelphia Union 2.24
Passes
350
466
Atlanta United FC 350
Philadelphia Union 466
Pass Accuracy
73%
80%
Atlanta United FC 73%
Philadelphia Union 80%
Corners
4
6
Atlanta United FC 4
Philadelphia Union 6
Fouls
15
12
Atlanta United FC 15
Philadelphia Union 12
Yellow Cards
4
0
Atlanta United FC 4
Philadelphia Union 0
Red Cards
0
0
Atlanta United FC 0
Philadelphia Union 0

Match Events

16' Stian Gregersen
28' E. Latte Lath
40' 🟨 Elías Báez
45'+1 🟨 Stian Gregersen
HT
47' T. Jacob
49' 🟨 Matías Galarza
M. Iloski A. Bedoya 🔄 57'
I. Vassilev A. Anello 🔄 57'
S. Korzeniowski E. Alladoh 🔄 57'
68' A. Miranchuk
69' 🔄 E. Latte Lath F. Picault
69' 🔄 M. Galarza S. Alzate
P. Ndinga J. Sery Larsen 🔄 77'
78' 🔄 A. Miranchuk S. Lobjanidze
D. Jean Jacques J. Bueno 🔄 81'
85' 🟨 Tomás Jacob
A. Anello 87'
88' 🔄 C. Sanchez M. Edwards
88' 🔄 M. Almiron P. Amador
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Atlanta United FC

Goalkeepers
L. Hoyos
MAGNET
MAGNET
47
Activity
47
Activity
46
Passes
1
Duels
Defenders
T. Jacob
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
S. Gregersen
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
70%
Duel Win %
E. Mihaj
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Baez
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Midfielders
C. Sanchez
NPC
NPC
87
Minutes
87
Minutes
29%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
T. Muyumba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Galarza
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Forwards
A. Miranchuk
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
E. Latte Lath
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.3
Rating
M. Almiron
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
6
Key Passes
6
Key Passes
2
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
BENCH
J. Hibbert
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Edwards
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Hernandez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Amador
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Alzate
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Picault
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Togashi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sergio Santos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Lobjanidze
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Philadelphia Union

Goalkeepers
A. Blake
SIEVE
SIEVE
25%
Save %
25%
Save %
3
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
F. Westfield
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
N. Harriel
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
O. Makhanya
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
54%
Duel Win %
P. Ndinga
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
M. Iloski
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
D. Jean Jacques
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
J. Lukic
MAGNET
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
72
Passes
10
Duels
I. Vassilev
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Forwards
S. Korzeniowski
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
B. Damiani
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
1
Pens Won
BENCH
A. Rick
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Sery Larsen
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Martinez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Bedoya
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Bueno
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Bender
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Sullivan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Anello
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
87
Goal Time
87
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
E. Alladoh
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
05/17/2025 Atlanta United FC 0 - 1 Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
04/19/2025 Philadelphia Union 3 - 0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Subaru Park
09/28/2024 Philadelphia Union 1 - 1 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Subaru Park
04/14/2024 Atlanta United FC 2 - 2 Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
10/04/2023 Philadelphia Union 3 - 2 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Subaru Park
07/02/2023 Atlanta United FC 2 - 0 Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
09/17/2022 Atlanta United FC 0 - 0 Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
08/31/2022 Philadelphia Union 4 - 1 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Subaru Park
09/25/2021 Philadelphia Union 1 - 0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Subaru Park
05/17/2025
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
04/19/2025
Major League Soccer Subaru Park
09/28/2024
Major League Soccer Subaru Park
04/14/2024
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
10/04/2023
Major League Soccer Subaru Park
07/02/2023
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
09/17/2022
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
08/31/2022
Major League Soccer Subaru Park
09/25/2021
Major League Soccer Subaru Park
Atlanta United FC Win
Philadelphia Union Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Inter Miami 3 7 6 3 +3 DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
2 New York Red Bulls 4 7 4 5 -1 DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
3 New York City FC 2 6 7 1 +6 WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
4 Nashville SC 2 6 5 1 +4 WColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
5 DC United 3 6 4 3 +1 WChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
6 Chicago Fire 3 4 4 2 +2 LChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
7 Toronto FC 2 4 2 1 +1 DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
8 New England Revolution 3 3 7 6 +1 WNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
9 Atlanta United FC 2 3 3 3 0 WAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
10 CF Montreal 3 3 4 5 -1 LOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
11 FC Cincinnati 3 3 3 7 -4 LNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
12 Orlando City SC 4 3 5 12 -7 WOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
13 Charlotte 1 1 0 0 0 DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)
14 Columbus Crew 2 1 0 1 -1 LColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
15 Philadelphia Union 3 0 2 6 -4 LAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)