A playoff-clinching performance against the defending MLS Cup champions finally got Philadelphia Union the win it needed to get the entire league -- including the crew at MLSSoccer.com's Matchday Central -- talking about the Boys in Blue.
Matt Doyle, cheat codes connoisseur, took a close look at the Union’s comeback thriller against the Five Stripes and noted the change of formation that has allowed the Union to exploit space on the flanks.
"The past couple of weeks it’s been [the Union's] wingers, and we’ve seen a shift where they’ve gone away from the 4-4-2 diamond or flat 4-4-2 which is what they played for most of the season and it’s been back to the 4-2-3-1. That’s allowed guys like Brenden Aaronson, who has goals in two straight games, and Sergio Santos to be difference makers."
While the Union homegrown has DOOP’d the old onion bag in back to back contests, the work put in both opening halves allowed the Medford, NJ., native to slide inside and punish defenses when the opportunity presented itself.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a player like Ilsinho as Doyle noted in his Armchair Analyst for Week 26.
"[Ilsinho] didn't get on the scoreboard but it almost doesn't matter," Doyle continued. "Because other than Carlos Vela, no winger in the league has more gravity right now. Atlanta sold out to stop him, which opened space elsewhere, and when Philly have space they do murder.
Ilsinho's played 893 minutes this year, or just shy of 10 games. The Union are +26 when he's on the field, including all three goals on Saturday. He is the greatest off-the-bench weapon in MLS history. He lights teams on fire and laughs as they burn."
Speaking of fire, #TheFriendlyStriker continues to be one of the league's breakout players of 2019 with four goals and three assists in the last five matches and it’s caught the attention of Calen Carr.
“You see some of the dynamic pieces, the interchanging of positions [with the Union]," Carr said. "But it’s still the No. 9 for me.
"Przybylko that gives this team the top-end ability to where I think they can make a run for MLS Cup. I understand Atlanta United has come off a busy stretch and in some ways the energy of the crowd, the home field advantage really played a lot for Philly but the No. 9 Przybylko, his ability to play the ball with soft feet, to get behind the ball and check off a little bit and allow those wingers to make dangerous runs.
“Confidence right now can go a long way and [Przybylko] is peeking at the right time of year and if you’re a confident striker or No. 9 leading toward the playoff race, I think this team proved a lot to MLS but I think it proved a lot to themselves.”
The Union will face off against Pumas UNAM this weekend in an international friendly at Talen Energy Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET (Livestreaming on PhiladelphiaUnion.com) before continuing its push for a home playoff contest against the top squad in MLS, LAFC on Saturday, September 14th, again at Talen.
