Nobody gave the Philadelphia Union a chance against Atlanta United, especially after seeing two red cards in the span of seconds. However, they showed character with nine men in a hardened, embattled 3-1 defeat.
The Philadelphia Union entered Mercedes Benz Stadium as extreme underdogs for Saturday’s match-up with Atlanta United. Despite the Union coming to Atlanta unbeaten in the last four matches and the home team winless in its past two, nobody gave Philadelphia a chance, and for good reason. Jim Curtin’s side have struggled mightily to score goals up to this point, and Atlanta have what may very easily be the most potent attack in the league. It was a mismatch from minute one.
Josef Martinez had netted nine goals in the team’s first 13 matches prior to Saturday. Philadelphia, on the other hand, has yet to have a player eclipse three goals. To put it bluntly, Martinez’s nine goals was more than the Union’s top three goal scorers combined. Borek Dockal and Ilsinho entered Mercedes Benz Stadium with three goals, while Cory Burke and C.J. Sapong both managed two each through April and May. Despite those numbers, Atlanta only generated one more shot on target through 13 games than the Union, only further portraying the difference in quality in the final third.
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In the 18th minute, it wasn’t a player, though, but rather referee Sorin Stoica that stole the show when he whistled Auston Trusty for a penalty and subsequently showed both Haris Medunjanin and captain Alejandro Bedoya red, leaving the visiting Union with just nine men. Stoica’s suspect penalty call led to Union players swarming the referee and ultimately losing two of its most influential players.
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Any time that a team loses a player to a red card, let alone two at the same time so early on, it goes without saying that it is a huge turning point. To nobody’s surprise, both Medunjanin and Curtin had critical words for Stoica after the game. Medunjanin offered to reporters in his post-match press conference:
"“We were four games unbeaten, a tough team to beat. And to rob us like this – you know, everybody gets criticized. The players get criticized when they play bad. The coaches get criticized when they don’t win. So why shouldn’t the referees get criticized?”"
Curtin then went on to add:
"“From everything that the Atlanta players have told me, from what the fourth official said, he had no idea that Ale was already on a yellow, which is a mistake.”"
Eventually, after more than three minutes, Martinez converted the penalty for his tenth goal of the season. But despite conceding the lion’s share of possession, Philadelphia was impressive for the remaining 25 minutes of the opening half, able to hold Atlanta to their 1-0 lead.
Due in large part to playing down two men, Martinez was able to add to his tally once again early in the second half. Perhaps the most impressive feat of the night was that the Union were able to get a goal of their own in the 52nd minute when Fafa Picault slotted the ball through Brad Guzan’s legs after a cushioned first touch out of the air.
Martinez completed his MLS record-tying fifth hattrick in the 83rd minute by converting from the penalty spot again after Fabinho was whistled for handling to put the match out of reach.
Unsurprisingly, Atlanta dominated Philadelphia in most statistical categories with 75% possession, 31 shots, and 94% passing accuracy, but the Union proved to be tougher opposition than most would expect from nine men for 70 minutes.
As is the case with most red cards, the impact will last longer than the remainder of the match, but this situation, under these circumstances, seems to be significantly worse than the normal. The Union will be without Bedoya and Medunjanin, two of their most experienced players, when Toronto FC comes to Talen Energy Stadium on Friday.
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Both players will be available mid-week, however, as Philadelphia takes on the Richmond Kickers in the U.S. Open Cup. Nevertheless, the toughness that this side showed in an embattled loss will be needed in the pair’s absence.