Aberjde sammen i bussen.
From Danish to English, it roughly translates to 'pulling together in the bus,' and that’s the phrase 30-year-old striker Mikael Uhre used to describe Philadelphia Union's teamwork and composure in their 3-0 win against Atlanta United on Saturday night.
“We're just a unit, a collective group. I don't know if I’ve got an English term, but I definitely have a Danish term for it. We pulled together, and that's what you really need from a team,” Uhre said.
After a three-match win drought, Philadelphia Union secured all three points in dominant fashion, keeping Atlanta scoreless despite playing down 10 men from the 56th minute on. With a victory and their fourth clean sheet of the year, the team sits at 5th in the East with 16 total points.
“We managed to stay disciplined, aggressive, and we made the game what we wanted it to be,’ Head Coach Bradley Carnell said in his post-match press conference.
“We put it in a scrap when we needed to, and we made it pretty when we needed to. I really enjoyed the performance tonight and I'm really proud of the guys.”
Quinn Sullivan scores first of the year
Nine matchdays into the season, the eldest Sullivan brother opened his 2025 account in front of Union faithful, capitalizing on a second ball from an Atlanta attempt to clear. Unmarked and perfectly positioned, the 21-year-old Homegrown took advantage of the opportunity, sending a calm and collected half-volley to the opposite corner in the 27th minute.
When asked about the moment, his immediate reaction was this: "It’s about time I put one in the back of the net!”
“I told him the whole week ‘Just do you. You continue to be you, and you'll be just fine,’” Carnell reflected. “I'm happy he could cap it off today with a goal.”
The goal was far from his only contribution of the night. Near the end of his shift, which featured 23 touches in the attacking third and 100% successful take ons, Sullivan found Tai Baribo for the 84th minute dagger that demoralized Atlanta and helped ensure the Five Stripes made the trip home to Georgia emptyhanded.
“Massive to have a clean sheet at home. The team worked really, really hard tonight. It was a total team effort, some amazing saves by Dre to keep it a clean sheet and great team defending. Happy to help Tai get the third goal to seal it in the end,” Sullivan said.
The performance earned him MLS Team of the Matchday honors, and nomination for both Player of the Matchday and Goal of the Matchday.
Sullivan is one of three players that have started every single match this year, and for good reason. While it may have been his first goal of the year, he's made an unmatched impact in the team's attack. After Saturday's match, he has five total assists, which is third in the entire league.
With 29 total goal contributions in his first team career, Sullivan is now tied for the most in Union history by a player prior to turning 22 years old.
Danley Jean Jacques scores first Union goal
Five minutes after emerging from the locker room after a promising first half, Danley Jean Jacques scored the team’s second of the night, triggering the club’s beloved goal song for the first time in his career.
“Super happy for Danley. He’s a great kid. To see him with a smile on his face is great. He doesn’T show too much emotion all the time, but when he does, it’s awesome,” Sullivan said of his fellow midfielder.
“He’s contributed a lot. He worked super hard today, he was everywhere in the second half so that was great.”
Jean Jacques has been a consistent starter in the midfield, appearing in the first XI 12 times since joining the club in August 2024 from FC Metz.
It’s a role he doesn’t take for granted, and the 24-year-old Haitian’s determination despite an ever-present language barrier was rewarded with a goal at last when Uhre found him in transition for a shot right through Atlanta United keeper Brad Guzan’s legs.
“Obviously, it's hard for people who come in that don't speak English. But again, you're trying to try to get the base terms down, and then you just also help each other with arm movements and stuff. He's getting better and better, and I think that we're starting to see his true level,” Uhre said.
No matter the language one speaks, the joy that a goal brings fans is universal, and that showed when Jean Jacques hit the back of the net, ran to the corner, crossed his arms, then blew a kiss into an enthusiatic Subaru Park crowd celebrating the doubled lead.
Determined defending with just 10 men
When Jovan Lukic was shown a red card in the 56th minute, Philadelphia Union had a comfortable 2 goal advantage, and while Carnell and his staff quickly shifted their formation to a more defense-minded shape, the team were able to found both a clean sheet and a third goal thanks to a relentless team effort.
“We thought they're going to start being a wide threat, and we decided to go five at the back and make sure we're ultra aggressive in the wide areas.”
“Indy gave as much as he could. Quinny gave as much as he could. Then we got fresh legs in there with Ale and Rafa, and it was amazing. I'm happy that Tai got his goal as well,” Carnell said.
20-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya was Carnell's first change post-red, subbing for Uhre in the 61st minute. In the locker room following the match, the young centerback reacted to his important 29-minute appearance, sharing what the final result meant to he and his team after a tough stretch.
“As soon as it happened, I already knew that we’d have to go five at the back. So as soon as I saw the coach calling me, I knew it was an opportunity to step in and just try to complete the job the guys already started,” Makhnaya said.
“[The third goal] was a very important goal -- we had to kill the game, because they were coming really strong...we needed three points so badly, we only had like two good games in our last five, so we needed the three points after the away loss."
The Boys in Blue wrap up their April homestand with Kids Day Presented by Nemours Children’s Health against rivals D.C. United next weekend. The contest sees the return of the fan-favorite postgame kick with all kids 14 and under invited to take a shot on goal following the contest. Tickets are on sale now for the April 26th contest, with registration for the postgame activity required. Kick off from Subaru Park is set for 4:30PM ET.
