After powering the Boys in Blue to another big result, Philadelphia Union's Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan have earned MLS Team of the Matchday honors from the league.
The Union duo were instramental in guiding the Union to a 4-1 victory over FC Cincinnati in the club's home opener on Saturday night.
Baribo produced his second career MLS hat trick and was the first to do so in the 2025 MLS regular season. After scoring a pair of goals in the club’s opener, Baribo now leads MLS with five goals through two matches and became the fourth player in league history to record at least five goals in a club’s first two matches, joining Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (2021), Ayo Akinola (2020), & Brian Ching (2006). The Israeli international also became the fifth player in league history and the first in Union history to score multiple goals in each of his first two games of a season. The Union have opened the season with consecutive wins for the first time since 2011 and lead MLS with eight goals scored this season.
Baribo opened the scoring just six minutes into the match when he latched on to Kai Wagner’s cross and tapped home his finish for a 1-0 lead. The forward doubled his tally in the 30th minute as Dániel Gazdag feinted in the 18-yard-box and found a wide open Baribo for an easy finish. The duo connected once again after halftime as Gazdag found Baribo at the back post, who stayed onside and completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute.
This is the second time Baribo has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra after receiving the honor last season for his performance on Matchday 27. Baribo is the fourth player in Union history to earn the honor multiple times, joining Julián Carranza (4), Dániel Gazdag (3), and Sébastien Le Toux (2).
Sullivan was active on both ends of the field as the Union's high press led to chance after chance on the Ohio defense. The Union homegrown notched two assists on the evening with the first coming on Baribo's opening goal at Subaru Park. Sullivan's hustle and determination went beyond the 90 minutes as he set up the Union's final goal of the evening in the 93rd minute with a threaded pass that was saw Bruno Damiani score in his club debut.
The 20-year-old is currently tied for the league lead with three assists with teammate Kai Wagner.
The Union will look to keep their early-season momentum going as it travels to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 8 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
