Milan Iloski, who scored a hat-trick, was excited to see the Philadelphia Union “set the standard” with their 4-2 win over Orlando City SC in MLS on Saturday.
Despite missing key young talents like Cavan Sullivan, Iloski shone brightly, netting three goals within 51 minutes, while Indiana Vassilev also contributed by scoring a goal.
Iloski’s first strike came from the penalty spot, followed by two more goals assisted by Vassilev, who also found the net himself in between.
Orlando mounted a late comeback attempt, with Ivan Angulo scoring in the 78th minute and Martin Ojeda adding another just before the final whistle at the 90th minute.
The Union’s dominant performance propelled them to sixth in the Eastern Conference, marking their sixth consecutive win and extending their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
“A lot of hard work went into this. We established that standard first,” Iloski, now one of only three players in Philadelphia’s history to score multiple hat-tricks in one season, told Apple TV.
“Scoring a hat-trick is fantastic, but many teammates performed excellently as well.
“It’s a complete team effort, showcasing our depth. This was a significant performance for us as a team.”
Philadelphia also made history following their post-World Cup form, earning 32 points in their last 12 games, which ties with the Seattle Sounders for the most points accumulated in any 12-game stretch in league history.
MAKE THAT 12 STRAIGHT UNBEATEN. #DOOP | @PennMedicine pic.twitter.com/026FkCu8pd
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) September 27, 2026
The Sounders also secured a 3-1 victory over Minnesota United, elevating them to ninth in the Western Conference.
Goals from Jordan Morris, Hassani Dotson, and Paul Arriola contributed to Seattle’s success, with Morris’s impressive 16th-minute goal making him the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 73 goals in regular-season play.
This win was also a milestone for head coach Brian Schmetzer, who became the third-fastest coach to reach 150 wins in MLS history after 334 games, following in the footsteps of Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley.
In Nashville, Hany Mukhtar celebrated a personal achievement by scoring his 100th MLS goal with two first-half strikes in their 2-0 win over Toronto FC, making him the first German-born player to achieve this milestone and the 16th overall in league history.
Nashville currently leads the Eastern Conference by 14 points ahead of Inter Miami’s match on Sunday.
The Vancouver Whitecaps maintained their position at the top of the Western Conference despite a thrilling 3-3 draw with D.C. United, holding a three-point lead over FC Dallas.
Dallas triumphed over Los Angeles FC 1-0 to move ahead of their nearest rivals, capitalizing on Houston Dynamo’s 2-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
Fan Take: This news highlights the growing competitiveness in MLS and the remarkable individual achievements within the league. As teams continue to break records and showcase young talent, fans can expect an exciting and unpredictable season ahead, which only enriches the American soccer landscape.
Source: www.soccernews.com
