Chester — After an emotional comeback win on Wednesday night that saw the Philadelphia Union erase a 2-0 deficit at halftime and go on to beat the LA Galaxy 3-2 thanks to a 96th-minute match-winning goal from Tai Baribo, the club will now shift its attention to Atlanta United, whom they met back on April 19th of this season at Subaru Park.

In that match, the Union rode goals from Baribo, Quinn Sullivan, and Danley Jean Jacques en route to a 3-0 victory. But tomorrow night’s match takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Philadelphia has never won in MLS regular-season play, with 0 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses all-time. The club’s only win in Atlanta came during their CONCACAF Champions Cup (formerly Champions League) match back in April of 2021, when they were victorious 3-0.

And while Atlanta United currently sits in 27th place in the MLS standings, Bradley Carnell knows that playing a team for the second time in such a short span is always tricky.

“We’ve done it against Orlando, and now we face them again. So it’s not easy to get yourself up and around again. I think our schedule and everybody’s schedule, you can’t rest too much on what was—you have to focus on what’s now and in the present moment. And that’s what we’re trying to do, you know? So we just have to get our guys ready from a physical standpoint, and sometimes more especially from a mental standpoint.”

The mental aspect is especially important as Carnell’s side navigates a hectic 9-match schedule in May, which has so far rewarded them with 7 points from 3 league matches, second place in the Eastern Conference, and their best start in club history through 13 matches with 26 points. While the mental side will definitely play a part moving forward, so will the momentum this club currently has.

“We said to the group at the end of the Columbus game, you know, it’s going to happen that you’re going to concede goals late, and it’s going to happen on the other side, that you’re going to score goals late—that it happens back-to-back in our favor this time around. That’s amazing. It’s a great experience for the boys to go through, which creates momentum, belief, and hunger and desire for the next job at hand. And it’s a difficult task going to Atlanta. We know that, and we know what kind of game we’re going to be in for.”

On the flip side, things have not gone as hoped for Atlanta since their last match against Philadelphia, as Ronny Deila’s first season in charge continues to present challenges. A look at their last five matches tells the story:

• 3-0 Loss to Philadelphia
• 3-0 Loss to Orlando City
• 1-1 Draw with Nashville
• 2-1 Loss to Chicago Fire
• 1-1 Draw with Austin

Results aside, Deila has switched tactics since that first meeting, opting for a 5-4-1 formation in their last two matches instead of the 4-2-3-1 the club used earlier in the season. While wins haven’t come in those matches, they have started to become more competitive—something Carnell is aware of heading into tomorrow night.

“Regardless of how they play, you know, they get a late goal, so they’ll have a bit of belief last night after their game. So, it’s never an easy environment in that stadium, with that crowd, the arena. It’s just something about it that’s always tough to play in. So, you know, we’re just gonna have to focus now on getting us ready for the difficult job at hand 14 games into the season.”

On the injury front, Neil Pierre and Ian Glavinovich remain out with knee injuries. Goalkeeper Andre Blake is listed as questionable for tomorrow night. On the Atlanta United side, defender Stian Gregersen is listed as out with a quad injury.

So while the Union face a tough task tomorrow night, the club will look to build on the momentum it has created. Carnell knows it’s not so much about the players buying into his system, but more about working together to achieve success as a team.

“I don’t think this is a me and them, or a Philly way and a Bradley way. This is our way, and the players feel that—they know that—and I don’t think there should ever be a discussion if this is my way, you know? I have to adapt to the players’ qualities and what they bring to the table. And together, we mix a few of the—we blend everything together to find the perfect sweet spot. So I still think we’re in that process of finding that sweet spot, you know, and in terms of the two styles of play, if you would call it that.”

The match is scheduled for tomorrow, May 17th, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. It will be available on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass and also on EA SPORTS FC Mobile.

Main Article Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Union