Baribo headlines as Philadelphia Union humiliates Atlanta United | OneFootball

Anyone hoping for a close contest between Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United was left to witness the home team deliver an absolute masterclass performance at Subaru Park. The 3-0 scoreline reflected the absolute truth: a tight, clinical Union team with some of its main men coming to the fore when it mattered most. From the kickoff to the last whistle, they dictated the pace, weathered Lukic's red card in the second half, and still managed time for Baribo to seal the issue with his seventh goal of the season.

Pressure from the start and attacking variety

Union didn't waste time showing what they had come for. The attacking trio of Uhre, Damiani, and Vassilev crafted the first real chance in the 16th minute. Damiani started the attack by defeating Cobb in a physical challenge, then passed the ball to Uhre, whose shot was blocked by Gregersen. Vassilev did not lose hope, he pushed, regained the ball, and the attack went on. Uhre got another opportunity at goal, but the shot went wide. That was the wake-up call. At the 27th minute, the stadium erupted in cheers, and they were not wrong. The play started with Wagner on the left, beating his man and crossing into the box. The weak clearance fell perfectly to Quinn Sullivan. The midfielder blinked not. He knocked it down with his chest and volleyed it into the corner. His first goal of the season. A beauty.

Sullivan wasn't done yet. In addition to scoring, he also set up the third goal late in the game, winning the ball back, holding it up smartly, and sending in a precise cross that Baribo finished off to wrap things up.

Philadelphia Union v Atlanta United | Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

Second half is strong and includes red card

Union emerged from the break with the same vitality, and it was rewarded five minutes in. Lukic and Wagner gained the ball back in midfield, and a swift give-and-go between Uhre and Damiani released Danley Jean Jacques on the left. With room to maneuver, he chipped it through Guzan's legs to double the lead and net his first goal for the club.

The only authentic hiccup during the match took place in the 56th minute. Already on yellow, Lukic received a second and was sent off. Playing down a man by a 2-0 margin against a tough Atlanta team had the potential to rattle Union, but it did not.

In spite of having ten men, Union dug deep. Atlanta's best chance since the red card was in the 76th minute, as Saba Lobjanidze fired at close range and struck the post. Apart from that, visitors threatened nothing, and goalkeeper Andre Blake had an uneventful night.

Baribo pads the lead and seals the victory

Even short-staffed, Union had enough juice in the tank to close it out. And for the second time in two games, Baribo came through. The Israeli forward, who entered in the second half, scored in the 85th minute on a stunning header. Sullivan provided the cross, Baribo pushed off his defender at the near post, and finished it crisply into the corner. His seventh of the season, and one that kept him in the league's top scoring list.