Despite scoring 4 first-half goals on the road against Inter Miami, the Philadelphia Union lost by a score of 6-4 in South Florida on Saturday night and will head into the World Cup break at the bottom of the MLS table.
The Blue and Gold, who lifted the 2025 Supporters’ Shield as Major League Soccer’s best regular season team, are the only club in Major League Soccer with single-digit points 15 games into the 2026 season.
Philadelphia Union head coach, Bradley Carnell, watches on as his team battles Inter Miami CF in a 10-goal thriller
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union
The last-place Philadelphia Union got off to a flying start against the 2025 MLS Cup Champs, thanks to Milan Iloski netting 2 goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
The first came from great team play down the right-hand side, with Cavan Sullivan flipping the ball into the box, Frankie Westfield heading it on towards the middle of the penalty area, and Milan Iloski firing it home for the early 1-0 lead just 4 minutes in. The early goal marked the 3rd straight game in which Milan Iloski has found the back of the net for a Union team desperate for offensive production.
In the 10th minute, the Union doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Miami Goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair, committed a foul inside his own box on a Philadelphia breakaway opportunity. Milan Iloski sent the ball right down the middle with his opportunity to beat St. Clair and give the Union a surprising 2-0 lead in South Florida.
Just 3 minutes after Iloski’s second of the night had Philadelphia feeling good down in Florida, it was Germán Berterame who got Miami back in the game with his 3rd goal in the last 3 games. Ben Bender, getting the start at Left Back for the U for the 3rd consecutive game, made a blunder at the back that led to an opportunity for Miami, set up by Lionel Messi and finished off by Berterame to make it 2-1.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) dribbles the ball against Philadelphia Union defender Geiner Martinez (2) during the second half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
In the 20th minute, Philadelphia restored its two-goal lead by way of Bruno Damiani and his first goal contribution of the 2026 MLS season. Cavan Sullivan did really well along the left sideline, getting the attacking momentum going and Miami’s defense backpedaling.
The ball eventually made its way out wide to Frankie Westfield, whose shot on net was saved by St. Clair, but Bruno Damiani was waiting for the rebound and stabbed it home to make it 3-1 Union. The goal marked Damiani’s first in MLS play since November 1st of last season against the Chicago Fire in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Philadelphia Union forward Bruno Damiani (9) celebrates after scoring against Inter Miami CF during the first half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
Less than 10 minutes after Damiani doubled Union’s lead, it was Luis Suárez who beat Andre Blake with a beauty to cut the deficit in half once again. Miami's Ian Fray lifted the ball into the penalty area with a right-footed cross. Suárez chested the ball down, hit the ball on the volley, and beat Andre Blake to his right-hand side to make it a 3-2 game.
In the 42nd minute, Berterame found the back of the net for the 2nd time to bring the game level at 3. A loose ball at the top of Philadelphia’s penalty area eventually deflected to Berterame, who squared his body, hit the ball with his right foot on his first touch, and beat Andre Blake to tie the game 3-3.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (21) protects the ball against Inter Miami CF defender Sergio Reguilon (3) during the second half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
In the 44th minute, Suárez scored his 2nd of the night to erase Union’s lead and put Miami on top for the first time in the game. Andre Blake was forced into a save after a number of Union players anticipated a whistle, stopped playing, and left the Union keeper out to dry. Blake made the initial stop, but the rebound went right to Suárez at the back post, where he was able to tap in his 2nd of the night to make it 3-2 Miami.
In the 8th minute of opening-half stoppage time, Milan Iloski would complete his first-half hat trick with a goal from the penalty spot once again. This time, due to a handball in the box, Iloski stepped up to the PK spot for the 2nd time on the night and beat St. Clair for his 3rd goal of the match, bringing the game level at 4 at the halftime break.
Philadelphia Union forward Milan Iloski (10) scores a penalty kick against Inter Miami CF during the first half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
35 minutes into the 2nd half, it was Luis Suárez who completed his hat-trick to give Miami the late 5-4 lead against Philadelphia at home. Berterame had a chance to complete the hat-trick himself, but Andre Blake made a good stop on the breakaway opportunity from Inter Miami. Unluckily for the Union, Blake’s save went directly to Berterame, who slid the ball over to Suárez, making a late run into the box, and slammed the ball into the open net for the late lead.
Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suarez (9) celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia Union during the second half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
In the 93rd minute, Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul would score his 4th goal of the campaign off a breakaway opportunity to make it 6-4 for the Herons, sealing all 3 points for Lionel Messi and Co in a wild and chaotic game.
“You can never shut them down, the games have been wild. I just wish we could have kept it tighter in certain moments, but everyone dug deep. I'm just sorry for the end of the game, the guys didn't deserve that, we expect more to close out the game. We lacked the depth and the quality at the end of the game.” - Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
Inter Miami CF midfielder Rodrigo de Paul (7) scores against Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake (18) during the second half at Nu Stadium.
Sam Navarro
The Union will now have off until July 22nd, when they’ll host the New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park, just under 2 months from now. The Blue and Gold head into the World Cup break sitting dead last in the MLS standings with a record of 1 Win, 4 Draws, and 10 losses for 7 points on the season.
They’re the only club with single-digit points heading into the World Cup break, and currently sit 11 points behind DC United for the 9th and final Eastern Conference Playoff spot. Looking back to last season, the Philadelphia Union had a record of 9W-3D-3L and were top of the MLS table.
With just a bit over half the season left after returning to league play in July, the Union needs to come out of the World Cup break flying on all cylinders if they have any hopes of turning things around and making the playoffs in the Fall, and it seems like Bradley Carnell is hopeful to get some reinforcements in during the recess to help with that.
“I think in regards to where we are currently, I’m sure there will be some information in due course and some plan of action” said Carnell when he was asked about a comment made on the FOX broadcast during the game about the youthful makeup of his squad.
“I hope we can show what the philosophy [of the club] can do, and I think we can compete against really good teams and frustrate good teams, but we need the killer edge and that killer mentality.” - Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
