The Supporters’ Shield to Wooden Spoon slide continued yesterday for the Philadelphia Union in a deflating 3-1 loss on the grass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. What looked on paper like it might be what the Union needed to kickstart their attack, it proved just the opposite as Miggy Almiron put in a vintage performance setting up three goals for the Five Stripes. At 0-4, the Union are off to their worst start in club history.

In the email today:

1. 🐍 Union Reach New Low in Loss to Atlanta

In a battle of 0-3 teams where something had to give it was the Philadelphia Union defense that folded, conceding three goals to a previously mostly dormant Atlanta United attack on the recently installed natural grass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The 3-1 loss on Saturday put the Philadelphia Union in territory not even the teams of the early 2010s encountered, an 0-4 start that is the worst in team history.

The first 15 minutes looked like the pendulum might be swinging the other way as the Union forced a number of mistakes and had a few good looks in the early going. Atlanta’s big money men had looks of their own but the slippery pitch and the shaky defense of the hosts tilted in the visitors’ favor. Until it didn’t.

Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his first MLS goal since last July on a perfectly weighted through ball from Miguel Almirón and Atlanta was off and running. With the momentum shifted to the hosts they created multiple chances to stretch the lead but a silly foul from Elías Báez, who may have deserved more than a yellow for his punch to the back of Bruno Damiani’s head, gave the Union a lifeline in the 40th minute.

Milan Iloski stepped to the spot with the equalizer at his foot and was denied by the left post. An ample amount of stoppage time after a long video review of a Frankie Westfield shirt tug that was not ruled a penalty was still not enough for the Union to find an equalizer. The 1-0 lead was fortunate for the Union but it didn’t last long in the second half. Two minutes in Almiron carved apart the Union defense again with a pass to Tomás Jacob at the back post for the easy finish.

The Union finally started to see a way back into the game with the introduction of Alejandro Bedoya, Ezekiel Alladoh and Agustin Anello just before the hour mark but it was Lath and Almirón combining again on the counter and Alexey Miranchuk finishing off Almirón’s third assist of the match in the 68th minute.

The final 20 minutes of the match was a chance for the Union to get the proverbial monkey off their back of no goals from open play to start the season and it was Bedoya’s cross and Westfield’s header to Anello that created the long-awaited breakthrough. It was a bright moment in an otherwise frustrating game to watch, especially for an afternoon nationally televised contest on FOX.

The challenge will be greater still when the boys in blue travel to Mexico City ahead of the second leg of their Round of 16 Concacaf Champions League match-up with Club America on Wednesday night before a return home for another Saturday afternoon game. America only leads 1-0 so there’s plenty to play for in Mexico, if nothing else to prove a fanbase jaded by the early season returns that there are good reasons to continue tuning in.

2. 🎙️Carnell: Getting back to basics key to overcoming slow start

Facing a winless Atlanta United team was supposed to be a perfect opportunity for the Philadelphia Union to course correct an MLS season that has resembled the early salad days of the club more than the recent era of competing for trophies.

Instead of waking up the Union’s season, a disjointed defensive performance helped to wake up Atlanta United’s high-priced attack to the tune of three goals in a Saturday afternoon match played on the recently installed grass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

After a missed penalty in the first half the Union finally scored their first goal of the season from the run of play when Agustin Anello found the back of the net in the 87th minute but by then the result had already slipped out of reach.

“I just think it’s about being braver in the final third, to get balls in the box, especially when we’re playing two strikers framing the box, keeping it nice and tight, and to mitigate the transitional moments,” head coach Bradley Carnell said post-game. “I don’t want to say anxiety, but there’s a lot of that floating around, especially when things don’t go your way and where it feels like every bounce is going to the opponent.”

Conceding first has been one of the issues of the 2026 edition of the Philadelphia Union. The Union are built to play ahead and have struggled in the past when conceding early, something the brilliance of Andre Blake and a stingy defensive line has limited. Blake made a stop early to deny Emmanuel Latte Lath early but was hung out to dry on the three goals.

Cohesiveness seems to be one of the issues with the back line. Carnell has rotated the squad to account for midweek Champions Cup matches but some early season injuries also led to game day shuffling.

In seven matches to start the season, Carnell has had seven different back line configurations. Nathan Harriel slotted in at center back on Saturday afternoon for the third time in all competitions. New acquistion Philippe Ndinga made his second straight start at left back and his first in MLS play. Ndinga is one of five defenders who have made their Union debuts this season.

The departures of Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner have loomed large in a defense that has conceded an uncharacteristic 7 times in four games.

“These are growing moments,” Carnell said of Saturday’s loss. “We’re waiting for a lot of leadership on and off the field.”

Carnell noted that a key to rebounding from the early funk is to focus on the basics.

“We’re letting ourselves down with the basics right now,” he said.

3.💧Water Cooler: Predictions/Player Ratings

Champions Cup Aggregate Prediction

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ +1 Club America (0)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ +2 Club America (4)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 +3 or more Club America (7)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ +1 Union (4)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ +2 Union (1)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ +3 or more Union (1)
17 Votes

via @beehiiv polls

Weigh in with your player ratings from yesterday’s loss in Atlanta in our Reader Player Ratings poll.

4. ⚽️ Social Post of the Day: Other Teams

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• The trophies keep coming for West Chester United, which won their fifth straight EPSA Amateur Cup on Friday night at Bryn Athyn thanks to a last second Funsia Donzo winner.

• Aboubacar Camara (Upper Darby, Pa.) signed with Portland Hearts of Pine and scored his first professional goal Saturday against the New York Cosmos.

• Kyle and Jillian caught up with Jackson Gilman after he made his professional debut for Toronto FC II against his old team at Subaru Park.

• Larry Henry Jr. recently caught up with Paxten Aaronson in a feature for SBI Soccer.

• Quentin Hall was impressed with new left back Philippe Ndinga in his debut against Club America.

• Philadelphia Union II will take on CT United FC this afternoon and they might have a new face in the lineup after announcing the signing of Mali youth international Mamoutou Berthé.

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