Recap | Iloski hat trick powers Union to record-setting win over Orlando City

Milan Iloski recorded his second hat trick of the season as Philadelphia Union rolled to a 4-2 victory over Orlando City SC to set a new club record with a 12-match unbeaten run.

The Union entered Saturday night shorthanded, with five starters away on international duty and three Homegrowns making their senior U.S. Men’s National Team debuts earlier in the day.

It was a next-man-up performance from the Boys in Blue, who controlled the match from the opening kickoff despite wet conditions at Subaru Park. Iloski struck twice in the opening half before Indiana Vassilev made it 3-0 shortly after the break. Iloski then completed his hat trick, becoming the third player in club history to record multiple hat tricks in a single season, joining Julián Carranza and Dániel Gazdag in 2022.

Orlando pulled two goals back in the final stages, but the Union saw out the 4-2 victory to make even more club history. The result extended Philadelphia’s unbeaten run to a club-record 12 consecutive matches since the FIFA World Cup break while also marking the first time the Union have won six straight MLS matches.

Philadelphia Union returns to Subaru Park after the FIFA international break with a showdown against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, October 10th. Kick off is set for 7:30PM with the game being the club's Pride Night presented by Subaru. Tickets for the contest are limited so click here to secure your seats.

How The Match Unfolded

LINEUP NOTES

With five Union starters away with their respective national teams, including Neil Pierre, Cavan Sullivan, and Frankie Westfield who each made their USMNT debuts earlier in the day, Ryan Richter's starting XI looked different than it has since his first match as interim Head Coach on July 22nd. 

Andre Blake is away captaining Jamaica, so 20-year-old Homegrown Andrew Rick took over between the posts against Orlando City. 

Nathan Harriel, sporting the captain's armband, stayed at centerback, parterned with Japhet Sery Larsen, starting for the first time since the team's home win against Red Bull in July. As for outside backs, Kai Wagner started on the left, while Ben Bender took over on right.

Like he was for most of the summer during the World Cup Danley Jean Jacques is away with Haiti, so Jesus Bueno made the start in the midfield alongside Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev and Quinn Sullivan. 

The pair up top remained unchanged, with Bruno Damiani and Milan Iloski the team's attacking duo.

On the bench, George Marks was the backup keeper, sitting with Geiner Martinez, Finn Sundstrom, Ale Bedoya, Jeremy Rafenllo, Ezekiel Alladoh, and Agustin Anello, plus two short-term call-ups from Union II in Rafael Uzcátegui and Jordan Griffin. 

Orlando City also had five call-ups, plus three players listed on the injury report, however one of the two Lions listed as questionable was available. Newly signed French superstar Antoine Griezmann had left Orlando City's Open Cup Semifinal loss against Columbus Crew with a thigh injury, and missed the team's following MLS loss against New England Revolution last weekend. 

Come matchtime, Griezmann was ready to go, appearing in Orlando's starting XI.

Pregame | Philadelphia Union Homegrown and USMNT World Cup player Mark McKenzie sett he tone for the crowd who braved the rain,  striking the drum before the match.

8', Union corner | Iloski executed a corner from the left in the 8th minute, sending it toward Harriel who was taken down before the ball go to him. 

11', Iloski draws a penalty! | Following an Orlando clearance, Philly quickly reclaimed possesion, with Lukic finding Iloski with a pass fromt the center stripe. From there, Philly's 27-year-old number powered toward the net from the left, drawing a foul in the box for a penalty. After a drawn out build-up due to Orlando City antics, Iloski booted the ball to the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.

11', Orlando yellow | Eduard Atuesta was shown a yellow card. 

19', Iloski scores again! | A massive defensive effort from Harriel against Zakaria Taifioski allowed the captain to find Vassilev up the left sideline, for cut in toward the middle draw Orlando defenders, leaving  Iloski open. From there, the team's leading goal scorer went 1v1 with Maxime Crepeau, first looking for Damiani then taking it on his own to make it add his second in eight minutes.

29, Sullivan shot | In his second start since his return from an ACL injury, Sullivan tried to make it three, but was blocked by Robin Jansson.

37', Orlando City yellow | Iago Teodoro da Silva Nogueira is shown the yellow card for a foul on Bruno Damiani.

Halftime | After six minutes added to the first half, Philly and Orlando retreated to the locker room for halftime.

47', Union goal | Philly opened the second half hot with a goal from Indiana Vassilev assisted by Jesus Bueno to make it 3-0.

51', Iloski gets his hatty! | Iloski gets a hattrick, scoring his third of the night by way of a top bins blast from distance. ​

55', Orlando subs | Down 4-0, Orlando made three subs, sending on Nogueira, Sarajian, and Otávio.

61', Sullivan shot | Sullivan nearly made it five with 1v1 opportunity against Crepeau but the Orlando keeper got a foot on the Homegrown's shot sending the shot right.

63', Union yellow card | Just after the hour mark, the Union were shown their first yellow card with Quinn Sullivan booked.

78', Orlando goal | After Sery Larsen was booked for a tackle outside the box, the Florida side turned to a play off the training ground as Antoine Griezmann went short with a free kick to Iván Angulo for a one timer that snuck inside the post.

79', Philly subs | Interim Head Coach Ryan Richter made a pair of changes after Orlando got on the scoreboard with Alejandro Bedoya and Agustin Anello replacing Iloski and Sullivan.

85', More Union changes | With five minutes left in the match two more fresh legs took to the pitch with Ezekial Alladoh and Jeremy Rafanello entering in place of Damiani and Vassilev.

88', Alladoh shot | The Boys in Blue kept pushing for another goal as Rafanello slipped a pass into the box for Alladoh that forced a reaction save by the Orlando City SC keeper.

90', Orlando goal | Martín Ojeda cut the Union's lead to 4-2 right at the start of stoppage time as he put home a pass from Harvey Sarajian.

90+', Union debut | The final substitution of the night saw a MLS debut as Philadephia Union II defender Jordan Griffin replace Bender with a few minutes left in the contest.